On May 3rd and 4th, the 2008 Medieval Fair was held in Federation Park, Gumeracha.

It was an enthralling and informative event and surprisingly, there are a large number of people who are interested in this vast period of time in history. So interested, that they re-enact many different aspects of medieval life repeatedly; at festivals, fairs, competitions and club meetings all over Australia and the world.

Some 1000 years are covered under the banner of ‘Medieval’ or ‘Middle Ages’ and as such, there is a wide variety of costumes to choose from and it was heartening to see so many people taking advantage of this, not just the vendors and re-enactment groups, but at least half of the visitors too! The atmosphere (and the weather) was friendly, as we wandered amongst knights, peasants, outlaws, town cryers, blacksmiths, friars, musicians, merchants, soldiers, archers, lords and ladies.

The lights of Lobethal were switched, the cameras rolled and it was all action on Friday, May 2nd, when TV’s Getaway host, Catriona Rowntree, and the crew, visited Heart of the Hills Market for the first in a series of its Market Kitchen Demonstrations.

Guest chef, HQ Cuisine’s, Sean Bradshaw, cooked and presented to the TV crew and gathered crowd, three superb Adelaide Hills produce-based dishes in the newly set-up Heart of the Hills Market demonstration kitchen.

Above Sean’s enthusiastic instructions and the hissing and clatter of pans, the only other sound that could be heard was an approving “mmmm” as the audience tasted the Spring’s Smoked Salmon and B.-d. Farm Paris Creek Quark herb crepes with HQ Dill Mustard Sauce; the grilled figs with Noske’s smoked bacon and Udder Delights Chevre with HQ Onion Jam; and Autumn Moroccan pumpkin salad with seared Woodside Cheese Wrights fetta, HQ Mud Dressing, Moroccan Spice and Poppyseed Aioli.

If you peep into the dressing room at the rear of the Lobethal Centennial Hall on any Monday morning between now and June 12th, you will find a group of between 12 and 20 volunteers learning the exacting art of tapestry weaving.

These volunteers are learning to increase their own skill base and to participate in the weaving of the historic tapestry of LOBETHAL. The fabulous design is all embracing and shows what gives Lobethal the right to call itself a historic Adelaide Hills township with an interesting past and vibrant present. Much public input went into the design and we are almost ready to show it to you.