2024 SPECIAL EVENTS

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Upcoming Major Events:

Fire in the Shire
Saturday, June 1st from 10am - 5pm
Our annual festival is a citywide celebration of all things medieval. Events at the Castle will include: Kazimir the Hungry swallowing swords and breathing fire, fighting demos by the Wisconsin Historical Fencing Association, pike and musket demos by Clann Tartan, and musical performances by Bardmageddon.

The Lasa Anahata Tribal Belly Dancers and Midwest Renaissance Actors Guild will perform on Main Street. Visitors interested in searching for the fabled “Holy Grail” in the shops of the shire can enter a drawing to win the treasured artifact along with $100 Alma Dollars.

Admission wristbands are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Children four and under are free. Visitors in ancient, medieval, or renaissance era dress pay half price. Stay tuned for a full schedule of the days events.

Lectures & Programs:
Most lectures and programs are held in the museum's theater area. Seating is limited. Contact the museum at 608-685-4231 or info@castlerockmuseum.com for reservations. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students, unless otherwise noted. Museum members receive a 50% discount on most events.


Dungeons & Dragons at Castlerock
Sunday, April 28th at 2pm
Join Luke Kramer for a short discussion on Dungeons & Dragons. Afterwards, visitors will have the opportunity to try their hand at playing Dungeons & Dragons, a popular role playing game. Museum volunteers will lead visitors through a short adventure with low level progenerated characters. This is a great opportunity for first time players to learn how to play the game. Reservations are required.

The Sword in Motion
Saturday, May 18th at 2pm
Join Luke Kramer, an instructor for Driftless HEMA, for a special presentation on “The Sword in Motion: An Overview of Fight Books from the Late Middle Ages and Early Renaissance." The program will look at these fight books over the ages, starting with the earliest known depiction of sword and buckler, and covering up through the rise of the rapier. Afterwards, members of Driftless HEMA will demonstrate the combat system of notable fencing masters Johannes Liechtenauer and Nicoletto Giganti in the museum courtyard, weather permitting.

Weapons through the Ages
Saturday, July 13th at 2pm
Join museum volunteers, Jamie LaBreck and Patrick Kelly as they discuss how weapons have changed and how they were used from the ancient times through the Renaissance. Afterwards, there will be a cutting demonstration with several weapons in the museum courtyard, weather permitting.

How Medieval Armor was Made
Saturday, August 24th at 2pm
Join blacksmith Thomas Latane for an armor presentation on the "Material Manipulation in the Manifacture of Metal Plate for the Man-at-arms." Tom will cover creating plate, shaping forms, beading, rolling and roping edges, and forming ridges. He will also cover wire drawing, swaging, and decorative rivets.

The Medieval Archer
Saturday, September 14th at 2pm
Join reenactor, Todd Eriksen for a special program on the medieval archer. I Todd will show off the gear that an archer would have worn during the 14th and 15th centuries including their long bow and a display of different styles of arrow heads. The presentation will also cover the training to become an archer, archeological finds, modern day comparisons to draw weights, and the archers decline.

From Forest to Furniture
Saturday, September 28th from 10am-4pm
Join Join Tom Latane, Paul Nyborg, Derek Olson as they demonstrate woodworking techniques used since the days when woodworkers walked into the woods for their material and began the work on the forest floor. Spectators will be able to visit with the woodworkers as the chips fly.

Meet the Vikings
Saturday, October 19th from 10am-4pm
Join us for an afternoon celebration of all things “Viking.” Reenactors will be on hand to answer questions about Viking history, culture, technology, clothing, and weapons. Visitors can also see several actual Viking era artifacts on exhibit including a spangenhelm, chieftain’s sword, and Danish axe.

How a Medieval Sword Was Made
Saturday, November 2nd at 2pm
Join Craig Johnson, Production Manager of Arms and Armor and Secretary of The Oakeshott Institute, for a special program on the how swords were made. Medieval swords were meticulously crafted by several different crafts people in a chain of production that is little understood today. We will look at the process from raw materials to a finished sword for sale at a shop. The entire process being an example of how the different guilds, crafts and merchants worked together to produce the products of the medieval period.