The English Ale

The English Ale The English Ale (Ale meaning singing, dancing, drinking & making merry) is an annual seasonal event held every year in May in Mylor, South Australia.

The first of our winter rains has come; in the Adelaide Hills the creeks and streams trickle and begin to run, the European trees have lost their leaves and the beautiful eucalypts shimmer in the early winter sunshine. The seasons are changing. We have farewelled another dry, hot summer – the land that was so parched and dry is now is coming back to life as we move into the green. The leafy faces

of green men peek out from behind the trees as King George and his mummers players ring their bell to summon all to gather. A bonfire is built with a wicker man waiting to fire the night, masked guisers in rag coats beat their drums to lead you along the path while we await the Morris dancers with their bells, sticks and hankies to accompany the giants Petal, Rufus and Tanis, to the lighting of our ritual fire. The English Ale is coming and the Spirit of Albion lives on! The English Ale is organised by like minded people who are passionate and proud of these living customs and want to see them continue and survive in this far away land of Australia, while still honouring this beautiful land we live on. The imagination of the organisers has been fired by the amazing festivals held throughout Britain today but special thanks must be given to Keith Leech and the Hastings Jack in the Green.

“Tradition is not worshipping the ashes but passing on the fire”
Gustav Mahler

01/06/2026

Catch Dragon Mill in all their fiery, hypnotic wildness over at the bonfire site at 9pm Saturday night after the Concert in The Dancing Cooper Tavern.

Entertainment program in the main marquee/Tavern at the Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval & Folk Fair 6-7th June next w...
29/05/2026

Entertainment program in the main marquee/Tavern at the Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval & Folk Fair 6-7th June next weekend. As well as this, other bands will be performing around the site as well as morris, maypole dancers and a huge array of fabulous reenactors.
Program for the outdoor Arena coming soon.
Note that the ‘Feast and concert’ tickets have sold out, but you can still purchase tickets for the whole event including the concert and get your tasty morsels from one of the fabulous food vendors.
https://usefull.com.au/event/wintermedievalfair

Not long now!!!The Armour and Alchemy Medieval Folk Fair. Wirrina Holiday Cove, 199 Paradise Drive Wirrina CoveGates ope...
28/05/2026

Not long now!!!

The Armour and Alchemy Medieval Folk Fair. Wirrina Holiday Cove, 199 Paradise Drive Wirrina CoveGates open 10am Saturday and SundayFree parking is available on site. Children under 10 yrs old are free.Don your cloaks, hats and best medieval outfit, it’s time to experience thewonders of a medieval winter at Wirrina Cove and the Armour & AlchemyWinter Medieval Folk Fair set to go off with an explosion of medievalmastery and mayhem!
Not only will we be filled with medieval village and mid-winter vibes, we are alsobringing the best of music and dance to our event this year with a fabulous array of performers.

Morris Dancers, Mummers Players and Minstrels. Winter fires, warmingwhisky, delicious eats, hand crafts all village style. Knights in battle. Feats ofstrength. And for the first time, music, live and loud into the evening with afeast and concert with local Pagan folk rockers Spiral Dance playing music to rock your ancestors.

Marvel at the skills of master artisans through live leather-workingdemonstrations and take home a unique handcrafted piece. Learn the secretsof wood carving from expert craftsmen as they create beautiful hand-carvedtoys and kitchen tools before your eyes.
Dive deep into Scottish history, exploring tales from medieval times and beyond. Witness the fiery art of blacksmithing on site, where iron bends to the will of the skilled blacksmith.Show off your own skills and imagination in the inaugural costume competition!

Entertainment at this year’s Medieval and Folk Fair includes The Society of Creative Anachronism, The Craic and The Cratur, Madadh Fiadhaich, The Fair Guisers Mummers Players, Warhounds Armoured Combat, The Eastway Vikings, Hot For Joe Morris Dancers, The Merry Maypolers, Lyrebird, The Lowland Rogues, Ironclad Academy of the Sword, Inis Mór, Dragon Mill, The Fleurieu Fiddlers, The Valiant Order of Historical Entertainers, Mariner’s Folly, Nova Roma Praetorium Australe Inc , Necro Nature, Serenity the Fairy and Spiral Dance.
Following the concert and feast gather on the oval for our Normus Gurt Bonfire and burning of a wickerman (no Romans will be harmed in this). A fabulous array of food trucks and Spier & Wright Whisky Bar - more to be announced soon!!!
Please note the feast is now sold out but you can still join in the revelry at Spiral Dance's concertand find tasty morsels at one of the fabulous food vans to bring along with you into The Dancing Cooper Bar.

Concert starts at 6pm through to 9pm with The Fayre Guisers Mummers Players providing their raucousracket and spreading their festive cheer half way through. After the concert,follow Hot For Joe Morris Dancers to our Normus Gurt Bonfire and firing of theWickerman (no Romans will be harmed in this) - and there will be some extra surprises!!!Hot Whisky toddies will also be available from Spier & Wright Whisky Merchants.

To Book your tickets:
https://usefull.com.au/event/wintermedievalfair
Camping is available and free parking is available on site. Children under 10 yrs old are free.
If you are planning on camping at this year’s Medieval and Folk Fair, please note camping is NOT included in your ticket. To book:BOOKINGS ARE ONLINE https://www.wirrinacoveholidaypark.com.au
Cost of Camping: Unpowered site $15 per adult, $10 per child, $5 per infant – Minium of 2 nights.Powered site $15 per adult, $10 per child, $5 per infant Plus $15 per night for power – Minimum of 3 nights. Enquiries [email protected]







Please consider signing.
25/05/2026

Please consider signing.

The Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval and Folk Fair. June long weekend.Fusing folk-lore and legend with a good heady se...
23/05/2026

The Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval and Folk Fair. June long weekend.
Fusing folk-lore and legend with a good heady serve of pagan mystery, Spiral Dance presents an eclectic blend of traditional English folk-rock with powerful self-penned songs and tunes. Rousing melodies intertwine with tales of Magick, myth and legend - music that will rock your ancestors!
6pm - 9pm in The Dancing Cooper Tavern.

The Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval and Folk Fair. Spanning the centuries with murder ballads, songs of unrequited lo...
23/05/2026

The Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval and Folk Fair.

Spanning the centuries with murder ballads, songs of unrequited love and dark fantasy comes Mariner’s Folly, performing songs from The Decemberists, Blackmore’s Night and Uriah Heep to name a few. Catch them in the Acoustic Tent on Saturday at 10.30, 12.30 and 2.30, weaving their mix of medieval and modern into a tapestry of spirited balladry and timeless folk-inspired tunes.

The Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval and Folk Fair.From the feasting halls of the great chieftains of Ireland to the b...
23/05/2026

The Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval and Folk Fair.
From the feasting halls of the great chieftains of Ireland to the bustling Dancing Cooper Tavern of medieval Wirrinna Cove come The Craic and The Cratur. Rollicking traditional and modern Celtic music guaranteed to get your Irish on. Catch them in the Dancing Cooper Tavern on Sunday at 2.30.

The Armour and Alchemy Medieval and Folk Fair. June long weekend.Catch the The Lowland Rogues in The Dancing Cooper Tave...
23/05/2026

The Armour and Alchemy Medieval and Folk Fair. June long weekend.
Catch the The Lowland Rogues in The Dancing Cooper Tavern on Saturday 3pm and Sunday 11am!
Retro British 70s-ish Folk Rock.
Songs and tunes from the medi-early days of folk rock by the likes of Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, Lindisfarne (no monks will be harmed), The Albion Band, Richard Thompson, Oysterband and more!

Catch this crazy bunch of gits at the Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval & Folk Fair on the June long weekend performing...
23/05/2026

Catch this crazy bunch of gits at the Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval & Folk Fair on the June long weekend performing their death defying and tremendously terrifying Fittleworth Tipteering play in The Dancing Cooper Tavern on Saturday evening.
Will Bold Slasher catch the villainous knight on the run? Or will Turk try and fake his death? …again!
Yes The Fayre Guisers Mummers Players are back!!!

Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval & Folk Fair.You all know Rob - he's the Wickerman builder from the English Ale team a...
23/05/2026

Armour and Alchemy Winter Medieval & Folk Fair.

You all know Rob - he's the Wickerman builder from the English Ale team and this was his last creation in 2025. He's busy building another for the Armour & Alchemy Winter Medieval & Folk Fair on the June long weekend at Wirrinna Cove.
He says "Come, it's almost time to keep your appointment with the Wickerman on Saturday night after the Concert and Feast in The Dancing Cooper Tavern!!!

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Mylor Oval
Adelaide, SA
5153

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