Going to Medieval Times Is Even Better as an Adult | Eater

"Often drenched in ’90s nostalgia, this castle-style dinner theater—which began in Spain in 1973 and expanded to the U.S. a decade later—now operates about ten arenas across the United States and Canada and says it has hosted over 72 million guests. Patrons are seated in color-coded cheering sections to watch a standardized pageant in which Queen Maria Isabella (the company’s first queen, crowned in 2018) presides over falconry, jousting, staged swordfights and equestrian dressage, with squires sweeping up broken lances and stable debris between bouts. The food is simple but surprisingly satisfying: plastic pewter-colored mugs of Pepsi or lemonade, bowls of creamy tomato bisque with bread for dipping, and a hands-on main of half a roasted chicken, a roasted potato and a massive boneless pork rib; adults can also buy boozy frozen daiquiris and fruity rum punch served in commemorative cups (drinks plus tip can run roughly $30). The attraction leans into theatrical kitsch—flower crowns, souvenir glasses and a merch shop—and can feel as joyful for adults reclaiming childhood delight as it is wondrous for kids moved by the Andalusian horses. Notwithstanding the charm, there are real criticisms: workers at locations in New Jersey and California have filed for union elections citing unsafe conditions and weak harassment protections, and the squire-to-knight training path remains restricted to men for the sake of “accuracy,” a controversial anachronism. All told, it’s an exuberant, slightly absurd spectacle that delivers memorable pageantry, communal cheering (and booing), and unexpectedly decent grub." - Amy McCarthy