Kaltenberg Medieval Tournament coming soon

I had such high hopes leading up to the Kaltenberg Medieval Tournament and was worried that reality might fall short of my expectations. However, Kaltenberg provided me with the most real medieval experience I have ever had. I am ecstatic to report that my expectations were blown out of the water. I had been to small-scale, local medieval festivals in America, but they were not a fraction as impressive as Kaltenberg was.

Seeing as it is the largest medieval festival in the world, I was not surprised to see a crowd waiting outside the grand entrance half an hour before the event started. I was pleased to see how many people dressed up for the festival. A good portion of the crowd wore traditional medieval costumes, which definitely added to the experience. While I did not have any medieval pieces in tow, there were plenty of items for purchase at the festival. Aside from medieval dress, booths displayed jewelry, pottery, leather accessories and candles, among many other goods. Even the vendors dressed the part.

As a resident foodie, I was extremely impressed by the array of options. I could not decide between a freshly baked donut, candied almonds or pork, so I got it all. The pork was pulled straight off the roasted pig, and prepared right before my eyes. Everything down to the plates and utensils were very medieval, as they were made out of carved wood. There was, of course, an endless supply of beer and wine, as well. Festival goers were given the option to purchase a refillable stein to last all day. A beer garden sat in the middle of the festival and provided seating to eat and drink.

A couple hours in, the grand parade was set to start. Elaborately dressed men, women and children paraded through the main street as their medieval counterparts. Fire breathers, musicians, fairy nymphs and jesters made appearances in the parade as well. The festival’s main event was an unforgettable jousting show. Included in the price of the ticket through Army Outdoor Recreation is an excellent seat in the impressive jousting arena. The two-hour show was not restricted to jousting and also included a commentated element similar to a play. The jousting tournament was such a unique experience, and a definite highlight of my day. Following the tournament, we had just a couple hours left at the festival. A high-energy band drew a large crowd at the main stage. The remainder of the night was spent dancing to the sounds of the Medieval band.

The Kaltenberg Medieval Tournament was one of the most unique trips I have ever been on with Army Outdoor Recreation. There was a perfect balance between free time and scheduled events. Between the various booths, limitless beer and wine, delicious food, elaborate costumes and arena show, my festival experience was one for the books. I felt as though I had taken a genuine step back in time at the Kaltenberg Medieval Tournament.

Army Outdoor Recreation will visit the Kaltenberg Medieval Tournament July 30. Tickets cost $129 for adults, $99 for children 6 to 12 years old, and $69 for children under 6 sharing a seat with a paying adult in the arena. The deadline to reserve a seat is June 24. For more information or to book this once-in-a-lifetime trip, contact Army Outdoor Recreation on Pulaski Barracks, Bldg. 2905, at 493-4117 or 0631-3406-4117 or visit www.kaiserslautern.armymwr.com.