At Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, a lance broke just a few feet away from our table, and I jumped up in excitement, closely followed by my equally enthusiastic wife. What was supposed to be a quiet birthday celebration turned into a surprisingly exciting night.
The place is in Buena Park, California, close to Knott's Berry Farm, so it's an easy day trip from pretty much anywhere in Southern California — usually within an hour's drive. The location is convenient, but that's not really why you go. The fun starts once you walk through the castle.
From the moment you walk in, the stone walls, banners, and towering castle-style structures set the tone. Armor exhibits and flags carry the theme all the way through the lobby, and the staff stay in character the whole time, treating you like a guest of the kingdom rather than just another customer.
We got there early, wandered through the gift shop, took the obligatory photos next to the armor, and had a drink before heading into the arena. We were seated about twenty minutes later, and by then, the excitement was already starting to build.
Location: Buena Park, California
Type: Dinner + Live Entertainment
Show Duration: About 2 hours
Best for: Families, Couples, Birthdays
Dinner: Included with admission
Price: $78 Adult, $48 Children (3~10), Free under 3
Parking: Free
THE KNIGHT UNFOLDS
I'll be honest about one thing: there's no special treatment for turning 31. No spotlight, no birthday crown, no announcement to the crowd unless you arrange it ahead of time. I half expected to feel a little overlooked because of that.
I didn't. Once the show started, I completely forgot about the birthday part.
There were six knights and kingdoms, which separated by the colors. The moment you're assigned one to root for, you're locked in — no easing into it. You're yelling and clapping within the first few minutes.
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| Knight holding a lance during the Medieval Times dinner show |
The jousting was the centerpiece, and it was more intense in person than I expected. Watching two armored knights charge each other on horseback with long wooden lances, and hearing the actual collision, was loud and surprisingly visceral. When one of the lances actually broke just a few feet from our table, I literally jumped out of my seat. That's the moment when I realized I was much more into this than I had expected.
The sword fights that followed were just as impressive. The knights fought on horseback and finally came down to ground on foot, using shields, swords and the arena itself as part of the action. It felt much more physical and immediate than watching a similar scene on a screen.
The horses deserve their own mention. Watching them execute those maneuvers precisely, with a loud crowd all around them, was honestly one of the most impressive parts of the whole night. I'd gone in expecting to watch it the way an adult watches a kids' show — a little detached. Instead I was cheering right along with everyone else.
We were rooting for the Green Kingdom, and they won. It felt great — until my wife told me she'd rigged it. Apparently she had intentionally chosen our kingdom when she bought the tickets because she wanted us to root for the winning side. This is definitely a good information if you're planning a trip with kids or a partner and want to stack the deck.
DINNER WITH THE SHOW STILL GOING
Here's what I didn't expect: dinner doesn't pause for the show, it happens alongside it. Servers bring each course to your seat while the tournament continues in front of you, and you're encouraged to eat without utensils, the way it would have been done centuries ago. At first, eating with your hands while watching a show felt a little strange, but after a few minutes it just became part of the experience.
The standard meal includes garlic bread (ask for more), tomato bisque soup, roasted chicken, sweet buttered corn, herb-basted potatoes, dessert, and your choice of coffee or soft drinks. I had my chicken half gone before my wife had even torn into her break. That's probably the clearest indication of how quickly I got into the meal.
The soup was warm and comforting right as things were ramping up, and the portions left us both full by the end. The food isn't the reason I would visit Medieval Times, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. You are not just getting something to eat while watching the show; the meal is actually part of the experience.
Vegetarian, vegan, and allergy-friendly options are available if you ask ahead of time.
Nobody walks in expecting a Michelin-star meal, and that's not the point. Still, I thought the food was better than I expected from a dinner show. More importantly, the courses are timed around the performance, so you can keep eating without feeling like you are missing the important parts of the tournament.
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| Knight preparing for a jousting match at Medieval Times in Buena Park, California |
WHO SHOULD GO?
This works for a pretty wide range of people — families with kids, couples looking for a different kind of date night, birthdays, groups of friends, tourists passing through Southern California, horse or medieval-history fans, or just anyone who likes live entertainment.
My wife and I went because we wanted to do something different for my birthday, and it turned out to be a much more entertaining date night than I expected. We were rooting for our knight, drinking, laughing, and yelling at the arena together. It was definitely different from going to a regular restaurant and movie.
It works well for kids too — each section of the arena is tied to a knight, so it's easy for them to pick a favorite, and live horses and swordplay hold their attention in a way screens don't. If you are bringing children, I would expect them to get invested pretty quickly once they realize they have a knight to cheer for.
A Few Things to Know Before You Go
The tickets are not cheap. For two tickets, we paid about $172 including taxes, but when you are paying for both dinner and the entertainment, I think the experience offers reasonable value for a special occasion.
A few practical tips: get there at least 45 minutes early so you have time for photos and to look around the castle. There is a lot to see before the show, and arriving early makes the experience feel less rushed.
There have big, outside parking spaces available. Even if you get there late, you will have to walk for a little bit. Since the parking spaces are wrapped around the castle, 3 minutes walk will get you to the castle. They do not offer valet parking. Also, if you arrive past the start time, don't panic. They will get you to your seat.
Wear something comfortable since you'll be seated for a while. Bring a camera. If you're celebrating something, look into their celebration packages ahead of time. Mention any dietary restrictions in advance so they can arrange alternatives.
And most importantly — cheer loudly. You are not really supposed to sit quietly and watch. The audience is part of the show, and once everyone around you starts cheering for their knight, you will probably find yourself doing the same thing.
WHAT STUCK WITH ME
I walked in thinking this would be a themed dinner with some entertainment on the side. Instead, I ended up getting completely caught up in the tournament.
I was impressed by the performers, the atmosphere, and how completely the audience becomes part of the show instead of just watching it. Somewhere between the first joust and the last course, I stopped thinking about turning 31 altogether. I was just watching my knight try to win.
That's probably the biggest surprise for me. I expected a fun tourist attraction, but I didn't expect to get as excited as I did when the knights started charging at each other.
If you want a night that breaks from the usual restaurant-and-movie routine, this is worth trying at least once. I went in expecting a fun birthday dinner and came out with a much better story than I expected.
I get why people come back year after year, and now I understand why.
There's another surprise when you ready to go home. There is Porto's Bakery right next to its parking lot. You can get some cheese rolls to-go. What a perfect night!
Let's go!
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