This is our 23rd Year!!!

THE FRONT GATE

Sponsored by Sir Robert Jackson, NYC Councilmember

11:30: Opening Royal Procession

11:40: "Asteria" Presented by Gotham Early Music Scene

12:00: Phillip Daniel Hole The Singing Gravedigger

12:30: The New York Revels - Cynthia Shaw Music Director

1:00: Salomone Trio: Sephardic and sacred music, French chansons & more

1:30: The Lord Scrope of Bolton's Tudor Retinue fights Captain Alfonse Wilhelm Petard

2:00: Mystic Minstrels fight Brother Dementus

2:30: The NY Scottish Pipes & Drums - Pipe Major Patrick H. Duffy fights Lord Scrope Bolton's Tudor Retinue

3:00: New York Celtic Dancers - Allison Fippinger, Director

3:30: Lord Scrope of Bolton's Tudor Retunue fights Captain Alfonse Wilhelm Petard at our Wishing Well

4:00: Brother Dementus visits our Wishing Well

4:30: Friar Nyp plays her Kemence

5:00: Manhattan Tribal Bellydance: "Mimi" Fontana, Director

5:15: Brother Dementus at the Wishing Well watcheth dance

5:45: The NY Scottish Pipes & Drums

Please support this event by
contributing a Dollar or Two
at one of our
"WISHING WELLS".

Buy a Festival Souvenir! Calendars, Note Cards and Posters celebrating the Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park are available at two locations, one at the South Lawn and one near the Pageant Wagon!

Gardener

The Medieval Gardener was considered a specialist at his trade. He was mainly responsible for the upkeep and cosmetic appearance of castles and estates but he was also called upon to build defensive ditches and barriers during times of war.

Throughout Europe there are many forms of ivy that grow wild. These plants tend to grow upward along stone faces and as such, castles were prime for this problem. Enemies could use the study ivy to climb and grapple the walls to gain access. Therefore it was important to have a gardener who could cut down, trim and destroy these potentially dangerous plants.

A knowledge of herbs, plants and flowers was essential. Most Gardeners served some form of nobility or local lord but even though a portion of their work was critical to the safety and protection of a castle or estate, they were paid meagerly.

Grain Merchant

Grain Merchants needed to be wise in mathematics and negotiations. To trade goods and services a Grain Merchant or any merchant at all needed to build a list of customers. And once established he needed to maintain quality and timely service to keep them happy.

Most traveling merchants either sold grain, wheat, barley, oats, hops, or other commodities that could benefit a town or community. There was much competition in this trade and a ruthless manner was often held between rival merchants. Once the customer base was established it was important to maintain a decent business ethic. Merchants often grew to be very wealthy and retired with positions of title and rank.