Foolish fun at Muncaster Castle

Muncaster Castle in the Western Lake District will be revelling in a whole month of foolish family fun in the summer sun this August.

Every day throughout the month visitors will be treated to a feast of tomfoolery at the Castle, which was home to the great Tom Fool more than 400 years ago, with music, magic, juggling, acrobatics and comedy for all ages.

The performances will include past and present ‘Fools of Muncaster’ who are chosen at the International Jester Tournament which is held each year to find the latest successor to Tom Fool, the original jester at Muncaster more than 400 years ago.

The clowning crown recently passed from 2009 victor Will Tease to Australian Mr Spin, who beat five other competitors by wowing the audience and the judges with a routine that included juggling with a glass of water on his head while riding a huge unicycle. 

All round funny man Joel Dickinson and Jason the Juggling Jester will also take it in turns to hold jester and circus skills workshops for children, helping to develop the talents of the little pranksters in the family.

Muncaster Castle’s Peter Frost-Pennington says:

“At Muncaster we always look forward to our sizzling summer of fun, as it gives us a chance to bring back our star performers, and get them doing what they love to do – keeping people laughing.  We’re very proud to be the only Castle in Europe that still employs a jester.  I’m sure that Tom Fool would also be very pleased to see us keeping the tradition alive.”

The Castle itself is open from 12.00 to 4.30pm and Muncaster’s Gardens, World Owl Centre, MeadowVole Maze and Creeping Kate’s Kitchen are open from 10.30am to 6.00pm.  The Castle is closed on Saturday except over the Bank Holiday weekend.

An army of Lancastrian soldiers from the Red Wyvern Re-enactment Society will also be descending on the Castle over the Bank Holiday weekend - 28 to 30 August - for Medieval Muncaster.

Muncaster Castle is currently number one in a survey to find the UK’s favourite attraction.  With nearly 15,000 votes cast in the survey for the Information Britain website Muncaster is ahead of attractions like the Imperial War Museum, London Zoo and the British Museum.  For more information on the survey visit: information-britain.co.uk

For more information on the castle, visit: muncaster.co.uk