Ballarat’s medieval adventure park, Kryal Castle, is celebrating 50 years of bringing history to life later this month and is throwing a birthday bash.
Founded in 1974, the Castle was created by history buff Keith Ryall, who grew up fascinated by the medieval era and whose family had a business manufacturing medieval weapons and armour. Determined to be a King and have a castle of his own, ‘King Keith Ryall’ started building the attraction in 1972, with Kryal Castle officially opening its gates two years later.
On Saturday 31 August – Sunday 1 September, the iconic castle will host a weekend packed with its signature blend of medieval adventure and fun, complete with a heroic joust, fireworks display and the chance for one lucky guest to win $10,000.
As a much-loved Ballarat attraction that’s seen over 2.5 million visitors through its steel gates
since 1974, the castle has curated a special program of activities to help celebrate its
milestone, including:
- High-impact jousting: Guests will witness the castle’s knights, dressed in full steel armour and riding brave warhorses, in a jaw-dropping joust as they fiercely compete for the championship title
- Spectacular fireworks display: The sky and castle streets will be lit up thanks to a show-stopping fireworks display, held on Sunday evening (1 September). The perfect way to end an action-packed weekend
- Archery challenge with a grand prize: Six visitors will be chosen at random from the crowd to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime archery competition. The first to hit the bullseye will walk away with $10,000
- Family fun: In true Kryal style, there’s plenty on for everyone, little or big. From face painting to jumping castles, dragons and fire performances, the kids will be spell-bound from start to finish. They can also test their fortitude at the Castle’s famous Knight School, with only the bravest and most noble receiving the title of Warrior of Kryal Castl
World champion jouster and experience director at Kryal Castle, Mr Phillip Leitch has worked and jousted at Kryal since 2012 and says he feels lucky to have played a role in its 50 year history.
“ It is an institution in the local area, thrilling families for generations. We’ve witnessed over 3,000 jousts (of which I’ve participated in over 2,000) and broken over 13,000 lances,” he said.
“This event will help us celebrate five decades of history, adventure, and unforgettable memories, and we can’t wait to share this special weekend with our visitors. With Sunday being Father’s Day, I reckon this is a top gift and something all dads would love. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a first-time guest, there’s no better time to discover the magic of Kryal Castle.”
Kryal Castle’s gates will open at 10am across the celebration weekend. Tickets are on sale now.
