Sneaking in right before the cold snap, and departing like the vibrant special occasion fairs of the Middle Ages, Medieval Fayre 2024 took place in Johannesburg this past Saturday, 1 June. Held for a second year at Greensleeves Medieval Kingdom in Krugersdorp – a 40-minute drive out of the city – the eleventh annual Medieval Fayre delivered what you would wish for as South Africa’s closest equivalent to the ren fairs held overseas.

We’re talking the likes of mounted archery demonstrations, a tomato-flinging trebuchet, Ésprit de Combat, falcon interactions, live traditional music and theatre, mead tastings, various light-hearted games and contests, and a vast marketplace. Medieval Fayre is big!

While a good number of vendors were familiar from other themed days put together by Medieval Fayre’s organisers Alter Egos, they’re a welcome and appropriate presence. These traders offered everything from hand-made wares created using traditional metal and leather working methods, to genuine drinking horns, tabletop role-playing dice, and more esoteric services like palm readings. It’s a unique spread.

There were some niggles on the day, like the smell of sewerage coming from the polluted river as you walked up to the venue battlements; and the ill-timed frustration of cell towers in the area going down, impacting some payment systems (in the morning at least). However, these were more to do with the location, and couldn’t really be helped.

That said, Greensleeves is an excellent choice of venue for the JHB Medieval Fayre. Positioned in the countryside, it makes attendees feel like you’ve stepped out of modern civilisation, adding to the atmosphere, and it’s honestly a bit of culture shock as you drive back home afterwards. While you’re there, you’ll also likely appreciate the fact that there’s no shortage of seated areas, and shaded grassy banks, where you can rest for a bit. The hedged Orchard is especially tranquil and lovely.

We had a blast at our first-ever Medieval Fayre, which was busy but full of good-spirited people (and shield-bearing pets or dragons in disguise). We also felt like we learned a lot on how to maximise enjoyment on the day, which is shared below.

Some tips for future Medieval Fayre attendees:

  • Come early as the day’s schedule is packed and you’ll find the time flies by. 10am to 4pm can feel very short, especially if you’re taking part in activities like Dungeons & Dragons sessions, quizzes and other contests, and watching the various theatre shows.
  • On a similar note, if you have your heart set on a traditional event delicacy, like the famous smoked turkey drumsticks, get one ASAP as they do run out by the early afternoon. Alternatively, get a Nobles Ticket that will see one set aside for you, along with other benefits.
  • Do a quick scout of the event before leisurely browsing. You’ll then know where some quieter spots are, in addition to alternate privy and refreshments areas where the queues are typically much shorter.
  • Take advantage of the complimentary shuttles that ferry people from the public parking to the venue and vice versa. It’s an unusually long walk.
  • If you are regretting not dressing up for the day, hire a costume or buy some suitable accessories when you arrive. These options are conveniently available on site.
  • Bring some cash just in case.

Now, enjoy a gallery of images from the 2024 Fayre to give you a better sense of the day.

As for other Alter Egos events on the horizon, you can find them all here. The next biggie themed day for geeky types is the return of Disworld Day, a tribute to the beloved fantasy world of Terry Pratchett, on 2 November at Rusty Hook. For the record, this event currently alternates calendar slots with A Viking Thing annually, so you can expect the latter to return in November 2025.