The University of Oklahoma’s Medieval Fair Department proudly hosted the 50th annual Medieval Fair of Norman at Reaves Park from April 10–12, 2026. With near-perfect weather—reminiscent of Camelot, where “the rain may never fall till after sundown”—the weekend offered a magical, educational, and entertaining escape for all who attended.

Once again, the fair left behind a strengthened community, inspired minds, and a deepened appreciation for history, craftsmanship, and storytelling. For some, the Fair provides a joyful reprieve from daily stress; for others, it sparks or nurtures a lasting curiosity in history and the arts. That spirit of discovery extends beyond medieval history to include hands-on encounters with skilled artisans such as blacksmiths, awe-inspiring animals like hawks, and meaningful moments such as knighting ceremonies, one of which even inspired a returning child to have focused more in school over the past year.

Visitors enjoyed a wide range of free entertainment, including armored jousting tournaments, the Human Chessboard, musical and theatrical performances, acrobatics, and interactive storytelling from roaming characters. The fair also featured a vibrant marketplace with food vendors serving everything from meat pies and turkey legs to exotic sweet treats like a smoking popping ice cream sundae, alongside booths offering handcrafted weaponry, leather goods, pottery, and jewelry.

Behind the scenes, six months of rehearsals, sewing workshops, and planning, beginning in October, ensured the success of the event, with groups like the Royal Court Cast specializing in improvisational theater and the Arthurian Order of Avalon bringing the scripted Human Chessboard to life.

Medieval Fair was also honored to have been the subject of the How Curious podcast on KGOU. For a fun look at video footage from the event, view the video footage here. To hear the full conversation, listen to the full How Curious Medieval Fair episode here.

For those interested in the numbers, early reports (with 64% of vendors accounted for) indicate that more than $1.4 million was spent during the weekend. According to a Placer.ai estimate cited by the City of Norman, approximately 94,600 people attended the Medieval Fair this year.

With the support of Dr. Biscoe, the Medieval Fair Department successfully launched a long-awaited sponsorship program to help offset rising operational costs. A resounding thank-you goes to Vince DeBerry for securing our largest sponsor to date, OU Federal Credit Union. We also extend our gratitude to Bernina of OKC, Wretched Oaks in Noble, and Visit Norman for their generous support. Businesses interested in becoming sponsors are encouraged to contact Ann Marie Eckart at ameckart@ou.edu or 405-317-5568.

The work continues as the Medieval Fair Department prepares for SoonerCon 34, taking place June 19–21, 2026, at the Embassy Suites Norman Hotel & Conference Center. As Oklahoma City’s longest-running premier pop culture convention, SoonerCon offers an exciting opportunity for outreach. This year’s theme, “Through Salt and Storm,” will be complemented by a Medieval Fair Department educational display on Jeanne de Clisson, the 14th-century pirate known as the Lioness of Brittany.

In addition, preparations are underway for the Medieval Free Lecture Series. Community members are welcome to suggest topics or speakers. The department is also actively hosting sewing workshops for costume creation and repair, revising rehearsal materials, and organizing upcoming schedules. Tentative audition dates for the 2027 Human Combat Chessboard and Medieval Fair cast are set for October 3–4. Applications for artisans, vendors, and performers will open August 30 and close November 2. For updates, follow @medievalfair on social media or visit https://medievalfair.org/.

Finally, a heartfelt “hip hip huzzah” and a thousand thanks go out to the many volunteers and supporters who made this milestone year such a tremendous success.