Storyline

This season festival-goers will be transported to Sherwood Forest in 1190. Richard the Lion-hearted has recently succeeded his father, Henry II, as King of England. He has spent most of his reign in the Holy Lands recovering Jerusalem and the Holy Lands recently conquered by the Saracens under their General Saladin. After a brief homecoming last year, in 1189, good King Richard is away to the holy lands again, and England has been left for the miserly barons and earls to rule in his absence. Although King Richard promoted the old Sheriff of Nottingham to the front lines of his crusade, there is a new Sheriff in the county of Nottinghamshire. Once a fair-handed lawman, Sheriff de Greasby has adopted an interpretation of the law that is just as unfair and unscrupulous as his predecessor’s. He is demanding even higher taxes, and plans to make sure they are paid in silver or flesh. But Robin Hood’s band of “outlaws” remains united to right the wrongs of the Sheriff and his deputies—and to assure the rights of the common folk are upheld. Their task will not be easy, as the new Sheriff has hired the evil Sir Guy of Gisbourne to bring him Robin Hood’s head. Come watch the action unfold as Sherwood’s merry folk battle with the Sheriff and his henchmen!

Besides the familiar characters of Sherwood Legends, there are countless Lords and Ladies, Craftsfolk, Knights, Barbarians, Wizards, and Fools to meet along your way. Each of them will be living out their own stories as the day unfolds at Sherwood Forest Faire.

But the trials and stories of our world are only fairy tales to the folk of Sherwood who are… not quite human. Sherwood Forest has been inhabited by many creatures of the wood: Faeries, Elves, Goblins, Trolls, and the like. While most have befriended Robin’s outlaws, some remain an enemy of all mankind… step cautiously into their thicket.

Also beware of the motley seafarers who have been sighted swilling from bottles and staggering about Sherwood in an unruly manner. Rumor has it that a band of pirates have marooned while attempting to navigate down the River Trent. They have taken up residence in the forest until the tide rises sufficiently to allow their ship to move back toward the North Sea.

Another oddly dressed bunch seem to have been transported by faeries from an England that is yet to come. William Shakespeare himself has found his way to Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest – 400 years before his own time! Shakespeare and Company can be found onstage and in the forest pathways, and sometimes hiding out at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Pub.

Let the characters of Sherwood transport YOU into a living faerie tale. They are here to make your festival experience legendary!