Chain mail-wearing medieval knights and maidens in home-spun gowns are travelling forward to 2022 Caboolture for the southern hemisphere's biggest celebration of medieval Europe.
The Abbey Medieval Festival is among 48 events sharing a combined $1.7 million in 2022 from the Palaszczuk Government's Queensland Destination Events Program (QDEP).
Member for Pumicestone Ali King welcomed the triumphant return of the Abbey Medieval Festival to the It's Live! in Queensland events calendar from 9 to 10 July.
"Events like the Abbey Medieval Festival are crucial to our Moreton Bay Region's visitor economy," Ms King said.
"That's why the Palaszczuk Government is investing $105,000 over three years to secure the future of this iconic medieval event.
"Covid-19 has been as brutal on the festival as a Middle Ages joust.
"Across the nation, squires and maidens are marking their parchments for 9-10 July and planning their pilgrimage to Caboolture for Australia's largest celebration of medieval culture.
"After a long two years, I can't wait to don my medieval gown and join visitors, locals, re-enactors and businesses at beautiful Abbeystowe."
Medieval re-enactor Rosalie Gilbert has been involved in medieval re-enactments for two decades.
"The Abbey Medieval Festival brings together a wide variety of people passionate about history, performance, celebrating cultures and times different to our own," she said.
"Come for the jousting, falconry and trebuchets and stay for the food and medieval shopping."
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said QDEP was supporting events like the Abbey Medieval Festival to attract new visitors.
"When visitors arrive from out of town for an event, they'll spend with accommodation and transport providers, restaurants and cafes, and other tourism experiences, which benefits entire destinations," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"In 2019, more than 30,000 visited Caboolture for the Medieval Festival, delivering almost $1 million for local businesses," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"We're supporting a terrific line up of 48 destination events in 2022 from the Southeast to the Outback and tropical North and Far North Queensland."
"Whether it's fishing, opera, food and wine, staying fit, or the middle-ages, there really is something for all Queenslanders to enjoy on this year's It's Live! in Queensland events calendar," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"The Palaszczuk Government's Destination Events Program helps community events support jobs for Queensland's visitor economies."
Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery has also announced a two-year Council Community Operational Support Grant to assist the Abbey Museum with festival running costs.
"This will enable Abbey to deliver the 2022 and 2023 festival events, and help it get back on its feet," Mayor Flannery said.
"Like many other tourism operators, the last two years have been tough for the Abbey Museum."
