With all of the things my family has ever done in the Chicago area, believe it or not we’ve never been to Medieval Times.
Correction: We HAD never been to Medieval Times until just weeks ago.
The Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament has always been on our to-do list, and why not?
Horses!
Battles!
Colorful characters!
Jousting!
Eating food without utensils!
My family was invited to check out the show as well as the Princess Training (we just watched, of course, having not brought a young girl with us, though I tweeted at the time that I probably could have taught the course…) and so we headed to the castle. The “Chicago” castle, by the way, is actually in the suburb of Schaumburg, right off I-90 at Roselle Road. Oh, and it is literally a castle, by the way.
Upon walking in we were directed to the middle of the castle (lobby), which is where we found, among other things, the photography studio, a bar, restrooms, a spacious waiting area, and enough merchandise for sale to put any amusement park to shame. Truly, there were some fantastic things one could bring home as a souvenir, from figurines to hats to flags to swords to…well, you get the idea.
An hour before the first show on each weekend day, Medieval Times conducts training for young Princesses (Saturdays) and Knights (Sundays). The “class” is free and is available to all kids aged 5-12.
Watching the young girls get taken through a craft (decorating their hats) and a quiz about Princess-ly behavior, I thought it was really an adorable add-on to the experience (definitely geared more towards the younger ages in that range though, in my opinion). Princess Catalina and the Lord Chancellor, who were conducting the training, were very complimentary towards the little girls and it seemed like the “trainees”, who were very focused on their crafting by the way, had a great time. The Princess and Knight Training will be offered through the end of September (and possibly extended beyond that but I don’t have firm info on that yet).
After the Princess training we had about thirty minutes to wait (and walk around in the lobby again) before we could go back in to get seated for the dinner and tournament, but time went by quickly and before we knew it we were front row, center.
The horses were amazing, fast, and beautiful. (and blurry, apparently.)
As the Lord Chancellor conducted the games for our entertainment (and that of Princess Catalina and the King, Don Carlos, too), we dined–without utensils–on Tomato Bisque, Focaccia Bread with Olive Oil and Seasoning, Oven-Roasted Chicken, Herb-Basted Potato Split into Two Quarters, and Braided Apple Strudel. Barbecued spare ribs were also a part of the menu but since we don’t eat pork, they gave us extra potatoes. A vegetarian meal is also available with advanced notice.
Each section of the stadium had a different knight for whom to cheer. Ours was the red and yellow knight and although he didn’t win, it wasn’t for lack of trying or cheers from our section. We had a great time!
I am giving away a four-pack of tickets to the Chicago/Schaumburg Castle (a $240 value!) so you and your little Princesses and Knights can enjoy a family evening back-in-the-day. Wanna go? I’ll be doing a random drawing on Saturday, September 1: you’ve got until noon Central time on that day to enter. It’s really easy to enter, too. Here’s how:
1. Mandatory for first entry– Leave a comment here, saying you want to win and whether you’ve been to Medieval Times before. (Whether you have or not has no bearing on whether your name will be drawn!)
2. Bonus entry– Tweet this:
“Hey #chicago! @melisalw is giving away 4 tickets to @MedievalTimes Chicago Castle! Enter here: http://bit.ly/MUM7yB” and then come back and leave a comment telling me you did that. (Even though I’ll get the “@”, it’ll be easier for me to track if it’s all here.)
That’s it! I told you it’d be easy.
The fine print: Winner must live in or have the ability to visit the Chicago area. Tickets must be used within 60 days of winning and reservations must be made in advance (with my Medieval Times contact). I will be using random.org to determine the winner. Comments posted after noon on Saturday, September 1 will not be eligible to win. Please visit the Medieval Times Chicago Facebook page and “like” it to stay informed about what’s going on in the Chicago/Schaumburg Castle.
Good luck!
More fine print: My family was provided with four VIP tickets to Medieval Times Chicago so we could check it out. Thanks to Princess Catalina and the rest of the gang for showing us a good time!
Comments on this entry are closed.
I’d love to win. I’ve never been to Medieval Times before. I think my girls would have a blast there.
https://twitter.com/jennydecki/status/239907480073809923
I would LOVE to win my kids love Medieval Times!! Thanks for the chance!!
An awesome contest. I would love to win, but really, who wouldn’t?
I have been to Medieval Times before, but for a friend’s birthday party.
I tweeted this also. https://twitter.com/LadyGDuran/status/239908375016660993.
Thank you for the chance to win!
I’d love to win. I have been before, but not in years!
I tweeted from @mollsmolls 🙂
have never been but i bet my 4yo would love it!
tweeted!
I’ve never been to Medieval Times, I would love to be afforded the opportunity to enjoy with my family.
I also tweeted =)
i would love to win…ive never been there!!!
I tweeted! I hope I win!! https://twitter.com/Penguinlove0620/status/239919116088143873
Hooray — a place where my kids are SUPPOSED to eat with their hands! We could finally be classy! (Never been.) Tweeted…
I want to win … went to celebrate my sister-in-law’s 16th birthday a long time ago. My preschooler would love it. Thanks for a great giveaway!
Tweeted .. scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Iwannago Iwannago Iwannago!
I have one boy who would love the knight in training.
We have been there before, two years ago as part of our Chicago Staycation and it was awesome! Would love to be able to take the family back there again.
Tweet tweeted
My family would love this, we have never been to Medieval Times but love traveling to Chicago. My daughter turns 8 in Oct & this would be a great family fun excursion!
OK! I WANT THIS!! I keep missing all of the Medieval Times contacts stuff and I have been trying for YEARS to get my family there but it would cost close to $300 for all of us…
Pat and I used to go back when we were young and kid free. We had some D&D friends who got married there (they were D&D. We were not. JUST TO CLARIFY.) (Not that there’s anything wrong with that) (I am on a major Seinfeld kick). I WANT TO WIN.
Tweeted!!
I would love to go! We’ve been and Joey loved it, this time Jake would be able to enjoy it as well! Hey Tracey, don’t feel bad I’m not on that contact list either #sadface and it is very expensive to take everyone.
tweeted
We took my daughter there last year for her birthday and now she wants to go every time we drive by there!
here is my tweet:
https://twitter.com/tiarastantrums/status/240059598738948096
I have been to Medieval Times, but my son hasn’t. Would love to take him!
Hi! We would love to win! We’ve never been to Medieval Times before, but we have gone to the Renaissance Faire & my kids just love it. Thanks for your consideration.
Duly Tweeted: https://twitter.com/jengray72/status/240072961762160641
I took my son last year and it was the first time for the both of us. It was a great show and I thought the food was pretty good! Would love to take him again.
I tweeted the giveaway – https://twitter.com/OnlyLaila/status/240085383579308033
What a great giveaway! I’ve taken my niece and nephew here years ago, before I had kids. So I’d love to take my little ones to this!
Tweeted. 🙂
I wanna win! I have visited once, when I was a wee little princess myself.
I have never been to Medieval Times but definitely want to take my 4yr old for his 5th birthday next month! Please pick us!
We would love to win! Went on Christmas Eve and started a new tradition!! My little tomboy would love to go to “knight” training!!
We’ve never been to medieval times! My son gets so excited, every time we pass the “castle!” As a single mom on a tight budget, I have never been able to take the kids! We would love to go!
I’d love to take my son. He’s never been but I went many years ago.
I want to win. We’ve only been once, and the wee ones LOVED it. They did not have the knights in training which BOTH my wee ones would love to do.
I tweeted for you. Because I love you 🙂
We would love to go! We have never been there before!!
i would love to win and have never been there
I have been and would love to go again! Husband and I took a honeymoon trip to Chicago and went, would love to go back with the kids!
I would love to win to take my 5 year old son, he would have a blast. I have been to Medieval Times in Chicago. It was about 10 years ago with my husband and older kids, now 21 and 18. they loved it.
I tweeted.
https://twitter.com/ricemom3/status/240173678824931328
Never been to medieval times, but my prince and princess would get a real “kick” out of it. Hope i can win the tix.
I would LOVE to win! I’ve gone a few times before, but I really want to take my daughters!!
I’ve never been, but my two older boys and my daughter would have a blast.
Oh! We’ve never been! Our son reminds us of that every time we pass it…*crossing fingers because I’m kinda tired of the reminders*
https://twitter.com/ItsToni/statuses/240242767358480385
Tweet Tweet!!
I’ve never been to Medieval Times before, either, but have always been curious – I hear the jousting is a good show!
I’m in Indy but love, love, love Chicago! We went to Medieval Times a few years ago. The youngest princess was only 1, though, so she has zero memory. Let’s face it, my 9yo doesn’t really remember it either. I’d love to take them back!
I would love o win and have never been before!
I tweeted!
What a great giveaway. I’ve never been to Medieval times but my kids have all enjoyed it with school field trips. I’d love to enjoy it as a family!
Tweeted your contest as @500Turkeys!
B eave never been but you had me (and my boys) at jousting!
I would love to win these tickets. I got to go once as a part of a class trip in high school. My husband has never been though so it would be fun to take him and our nephews.
I would love take my daughters to Medieval Times. We have never been there.
Tweeted!
https://twitter.com/kouponkat/status/241613378206957568
Thanks for the chance to win!
@KouponKat