Video: Highlights of the 2016 festival
Around 40,000 people are expected at the 33rd Robin Hood Festival which starts on Monday in Sherwood Forest.
Nottinghamshire County Council is hosting the annual festival in the historic woodland, famous for its re-enactments and family fun.
Running until next weekend, the 2017 event features scuffles between Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham, colourful displays with costumed characters and medieval music, craft stalls, storytelling, comedy and hav- a-go archery.
Councillor John Cottee, Committee Chairman for Communitiesat Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “It always entertains and excites everyone who attends and is a great day out for the whole family.
“We attract visitors from across the UK and from abroad to visit iconic Sherwood Forest and celebrate the world’s favourite medieval outlaw.”
Izi Banton, site manager at Sherwood Forest, a long-serving organiser of the festival, this has worked on all but two of the events over the last three decades.
She said: “For many of the performers it is their favourite event of the year and of course none of it would be worthwhile doing without the amazing support of the visitors, who come back year after year.
“In fact we now have several generations of the same family coming to the event which is lovely to see, although of course we very much welcome new festival goers.
“And we have great staff and volunteers who work their socks off for the week to help make the event as smooth and fun as possible.”
Festival Folk characters always provide a key focal point during the week with many favourites set to return this year including Alan a Dale and Rosie.
Legends, tomfoolery from the Medieval Maniax, Billy of Loxley and Simple Tom, medieval melodies from Sloe Gin and the Crazy Dutch Regulars are also part of 40 different performers and traders.
Around 40,000 visitors attended the festival last year. Activities and events are spread over Sherwood Forest Country Park near Edwinstowe from 11am to 4pm each day.
But there will be no jousting and falconry this year due to the development of the new visitor centre, which opens in Summer 2018.
The festival is free entry, and parking is £5.
Main events in full;
TUESDAY 1 AUGUST
7pm Music in the Forest
Join some of the festival’s talented performers for a magical evening of music and song in the Open Air Theatre
THURSDAY 3 AUGUST
7.30pm Twilight Tales
Past Imagined will lead you on a gentle story walk through the magical forest telling spellbinding tales accompanied by enchanting melodies from medieval minstrel Trevor James.
SATURDAY 5 AUGUST
7.30pm An Evening of Medieval Merriment
Let your hair down with Robin and his merry band as they gather together with other members of the festival cast for an evening of mayhem and merriment.
