THE highly-popular medieval festival and oyster fair will take place this summer, with extra celebrations marking the Queen’s 70th Jubilee.

Lower Castle Park in Colchester will play host to the events on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, with a re-enactment of the royal court of Queen Elizabeth I and King Henry VIII also featuring throughout the jubilee weekend.

The fair will include stalls showing off medieval crafts and delicacies to the delight of history lovers and foodies.

Storytellers, puppeteers and musicians will be offering entertainment, with other stalls featuring archery, falconry, as well as medieval food and drink in Castle Park.

The fair will also host the 2022 national championships of nine men’s morris - a strategy board game which was devised during the years of the Roman Empire - although it is believed to have also been played by the ancient Egyptians 1,000 years earlier.

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Speaking about the event later this year, director Don Quinn said he was avidly anticipating the weekend.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to it.

“We are going to have quite a crowd of people dressing in fantastic costumes.

“It will be counterpointed by the usual humble craftspeople who will be making things.

“Visitors will be getting more bang for their buck.”

Mr Quinn has been involved in the event for the past 15 years, and has director for the past five years, although in 2020 no event took place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gazette: Regalia – there will be royal re-enactments as the event is taking place over the jubilee weekendRegalia – there will be royal re-enactments as the event is taking place over the jubilee weekend

He added the Queen’s jubilee celebrations will add to the excitement.

“It’s going to be very, very exciting,” he said.

“We are going to do a treasure hunt for kids and we will have all the wonderful clashes of steel and, of course, we will have the biggest longbow contest in Britain.

“We’re not worried about Covid this year – this is an outside event and we can do it safely.”

Tickets for the event can be bought on the website www.foodanddrinkfestivals.co.uk.

All visitors to the fair will also receive a 25 per cent discount on tickets to visit the Castle Museum.