We have joined forces with the town’s long-standing Medieval Festival to help bring back the event’s popular town-centre parade.

The parade was one of the highlights of the festival for many years and we are using our theatrical know-how to return medieval pomp and ceremony to the town’s high street.

Widely regarded as the largest free celebrate of all things medieval anywhere in Europe, Tewkesbury’s Medieval Festival is a red-letter event for the town. It is also entirely volunteer-led.

“It’s such a brilliant part of the culture of our town,” says our Artistic Director, Derek Bond. “So it makes total sense to play our part and ensure our streets and shops are able to get properly into the medieval mood!”

Bringing The Festival Back Into Town

Much of the festival takes place just outside of the town on part of the site of the fateful Battle of Tewkesbury, which took place in 1471 during the Wars of the Roses. It saw the defeat of King Henry VI by forces loyal to King Edward IV, ending a long phase of bloody civil war.

Since 1983, the Medieval Festival has seen an historically-accurate encampment established on the site for a whole weekend. Visitors can explore the arts and crafts of the period, talk to re-enactors who remain in-character, watch a recreation of the battle, and more. The town is decorated with authentic medieval banners throughout.

But in recent years the town centre itself has not seen the historic pageantry fill its streets as once it did. For 2026, we will bring theatre and culture back to the town centre as part of the festival, featuring beautiful costumes, character walkabouts, medieval-themed performances and a full parade through the town.

“The parade has been a much-loved part of the festival weekend since its inception in 2015, and we know how much it’s been missed in recent years,” says Mikki Hache, one of the festival’s directors. “That’s why we’re so grateful to The Roses for all their hard work and dedication in bringing it back for the 2026 event, and in engaging the community and local groups.

“We can’t wait to see it back!”

The volunteer-led festival is entirely self-funded, and has grown every year since it began in 1983. The Roses sees its role as helping the team behind its huge success do even more, with the help, and for the benefit, of their wider community.

“Cultural events like this are so important to towns like ours,” says Bond. “Not only should everyone have access to exciting spectacle and informative events; theatre and the arts is good for the economy, too.

“For every £1 spent on a theatre or cultural event ticket, £1.40 of further spending flows into surrounding restaurants, pubs, and shops! Bringing the parade back into town will inject even more life into Tewkesbury – and we’re so proud to be part of that happening.”

Tewkesbury Medieval Festival takes place on Sat 11 Jul & Sun 12 Jul The parade will fill the streets of Tewkesbury on Sun 12 Jul at 11.15am.