THE ROBIN HOOD FESTIVAL ARCHIVE

Below are a selection of photographs taken at Festivals from previous years.

The Robin Hood Festival 2007

As there is so much to see and crowds were so large this year it was not possible to get photographs of every event but this selection of images from Wednesday & Saturday gives a taste of the entertainments to be enjoyed throughout the festival.

Wednesday 1st August

What A Palaver

The Major Oak

Perrotts Puppets

Hautbois

Entertainment at the Visitor Centre

Jolly Jester Jingles

The Crazy Dutch Regulars

Ye Olde Redtail Falconry

Entertainers Billy of Loxley & Entourage and Jolly Jester Jingles warm up the crowds before the joust.

Legends

Saturday 4th August

Demonstrations of weaponry to the crowds beside the Major Oak and musical entertainment from Trevor James the Minstrel

Have a go archery

Trinity Court Potteries

An Evening of Medieval Merriment to round off the day.

The Robin Hood Festival 2006

Tuesday 1st August

Despite exceptional temperatures in July, August brought with it clouds, wind and rain.  More reminiscent of the October Robin Hood Pageant I found myself battling against driving rain and high winds within hours of arriving at the festival.  Fortunately the sun shone through the clouds at regular intervals throughout the day and all the festival entertainers, organisers and visitors were smiling throughout.  As I was only able to visit for the one day this year I decided to see some of the entertainers and events I hadn't encountered previously.  First up it was a Walk With Hawks with Hardy the Harris Hawk. 

Our guide was informative and interesting and kept the group entertained for 1hour and 15 minutes even though the first attempt to fly the bird had him sitting atop a tree for a long period so he remained in hand after he returned.  The heavy rain caused a few to turn back to the sheltered visitor centre but many children were too fascinated to notice the inclement weather.

Walking out to the Major Oak the medieval market encampment offered traditional crafts and some entertainment in the form of children's games, puppet shows and have a go archery.

I also listened to Past Imagined telling traditional tales such as the Devil and the Hazelnut whilst children and adults gathered round to hear. Unfortunately another downpour drove away some of the audience but I understand they had a storytelling tent further along the forest path which I'm sure will have been popular on the wetter days of the festival.

Hautbois

Walking back to the visitor centre I heard the beautiful sounds of music from Hautbois and stopped to listen for a while as the sun at last shone warmly on the forest.  Then it was off to meet up with a Robin Hood expert who it was joy to chat with, visit his excellent website at www.boldoutlaw.com.

The Robin Hood Festival 2005

The 21st Robin Hood Festival

Saturday 6th August

Crowds gather beside the major oak and surrounding craft market.  There is so much to see and do that even the medieval ladies need to use the map in the event guidebook to work out where to go next.

Tried my hand at archery - the cardboard men atop the castle had nothing to fear.

The open air theatre is really for children but I decided to see what some of the shows were like this weekend.

A drum roll heralded the arrival of Billy of Loxley and his juggling troupe.

Audience participation keeps the children interested and the audience was treated to various displays of juggling skill (I think there was even fire at one point).

Entertainers are to be found throughout Sherwood.  Here the Crazy Dutch Regulars entertain passers by on the forest path.

Down at the main arena crowds gather and festival performers enter the arena to signal the forthcoming finale display.

A rousing chorus of Queen's We Will Rock You led by one of The Singing Plague Victims keeps the crowd entertained as The Legends Stunt Display Team prepare to test their jousting skills at the quintain.

Robin challenges and fights one of the Sheriff's men then other outlaws and henchmen take up the challenge (or abandon their quarterstaffs and generally attack one another!)

The Sheriff comes over to sort out the ladies nearby who are heckling him.

Sunday 7th August

I started off the day back at the Open Air Theatre watching The Medieval Maniax perform 'Robin Hood Retired'.  This had the whole audience entertained with a fast moving script that whilst aimed at the children could also be appreciated by the adults in the audience. I cannot remember the sequence of the story to caption the photos but hopefully the images will give you an idea of the lively entertainment you can expect at one of these shows.  Something enjoyed by lots of budding outlaws in felt hats.

You'll have to go and see the show to find out who wins the final duel!

An archery display in front of the major oak from _ with some good information about the different arrowheads etc and how use of the longbow fitted into the medieval period.

One of the encampments beside the Major Oak.

Minstrels on the forest path.

The Robin Hood Festival 2004

The 20th Robin Hood Festival

The Legends Stunt Display Team salute the crowd.

It was a 40 minute queue to try my hand at shooting 6 arrows with a longbow but well worth the wait to get a chance to do this.  The English Longbow Events team were excellent in both demonstrating how it should be done and offering plenty of help to those wanting to try and shoot.

Fortunately no passing visitors were harmed by my attempts to fire an arrow.

Ye Olde Redtail Falconry

Photographs of the Legends Display

Crowds on the bank await the arrival of Robin Hood & Will Scarlet into the arena

Chess piece knights keep children wandering over the safety barriers in order.

The knights call for favours from the audience.  Will Scarlet gets a Maid Marian garland (and wears it throughout the tournament)

Whilst Robin gets a baseball cap to go with his hoodie.

Marian challenges the Sheriff and the crowd boo when he is afraid to fight a girl.

Friar Tuck resorts to use of his body mass to finish his opponent.

The joust.

Displays of skill such as chopping the cabbage (used to represent a foot soldier's head) with a hand held axe are incorporated into the performance. Would be outlaws watch from the trees.

Riders attempt to spear the small rings as they pass.

Finally Robin challenges the Sheriff under the watchful eye of the master of ceremonies.

Good of course triumphs over evil and Robin and his men save the day.

The Robin Hood Festival 2003

The 19th Robin Hood Festival

Jousting entertainment from the Legends Stunt Display Team.

Robin stops to have a conversation with the crowd leaving Marian to face the Sheriff of Nottingham alone...

Realising Robin is off to the inn with his friends from the crowd The Merry Men join the fight against evil.

Will Scarlet shouts after Robin trying to remind him of his duty as star of the show.  After some persuasion Robin takes on the Barbarian under the close supervision of Will Scarlet.

Robin signals that he'll be back for his pint in just one minute whilst Will tries to turn his attention back to the battle in progress.

Meanwhile on the other side of the field the Sheriff's noblemen are busy settling their own argument.......

They soon regret trying to prove they can wield the biggest sword in the tournament as the midday sun burns down.

As a finale to the epic fight sequences Robin must take on the Sheriff.

But which lucky gentleman won the lady's hand in marriage........

You'll just have to visit The Robin Hood Festival to find out.

Billy of Loxley entertains the crowds.

The Rat catcher's encampment

The Robin Hood Festival 2002

The 18th Robin Hood Festival

Photos from Saturday's festivities

What A Palaver

The Singing Plague Victims

(Milly Molly Manky & Nostrildamus)

& mystery drummer to the right of photo

Legends Stunt Display Team

Visit the official Nottinghamshire County Council festival website at www.robinhoodfestival.info