Rowany Festival offers a wide range of activities designed to engage and entertain children and teenagers while providing a safe and inclusive environment.
Schola Tent
From hands-on crafts to exciting combat tournaments, young attendees have plenty of opportunities to learn, create, and participate in medieval-style fun.
Arts and Crafts
Children can immerse themselves in medieval creativity through a variety of arts and crafts activities, such as:
- Calligraphy and illumination workshops
- Embroidery and weaving sessions
- Shield and banner painting
- Clay and sculpting activities
These activities allow kids to explore medieval artistic traditions while making their own keepsakes to take home.
Story Time
For younger attendees, Story Time sessions offer engaging tales of knights, legends, and medieval folklore. Skilled storytellers captivate young imaginations, creating an immersive and magical experience under the festival tents or by the bardic fire.
Boffer Tourney & Axe Throwing
The Boffer Tourney is a festival favorite, providing a fun and safe introduction to medieval-style combat. Using foam-padded weapons, children can participate in structured mock battles with age-appropriate rules. Trained marshals oversee the matches to ensure safety and encourage good sportsmanship.
Children’s Archery
Young archers can test their skills in supervised archery sessions. Specially designed for children, these activities teach basic techniques while ensuring a safe and supportive environment. Archery instructors help participants develop their aim and confidence using lightweight bows.
The Quest (Treasure Hunt)
One of the most exciting activities for kids is The Quest, a treasure hunt that takes young adventurers on a journey across the festival grounds. Following medieval-themed clues, children solve riddles, complete small challenges, and discover hidden treasures while exploring the event site.
Teen Retreat
Teenagers at the festival have access to a designated space where they can socialize and take part in age-appropriate activities. Offerings include:
- Youth combat training for those interested in medieval fighting
- Dance workshops and participation in the Caroso Ball
- Role-playing and storytelling games designed for interactive fun
- Strategy games, arts projects, and skill-building workshops
The Teen Retreat provides a great way for older youth to engage with the festival, make new friends, and develop skills in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Child Safety and Supervision Rules
Rowany Festival prioritises child safety and requires all parents and guardians to adhere to specific supervision guidelines:
- Children under 7 must wear identification tags with their name, campsite, and guardian details.
- Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times in high-risk areas, including the archery range, war field, and swimming hole.
- Parents are responsible for ensuring their children follow festival rules and engage in activities safely.
- The Tavern and Bar (when operating as a licensed premises) are restricted areas for minors. Children may pass through the tavern only when accompanied by a guardian and must remain at a distance from the bar area. During Saturday Market Day, the bar is closed and children may enter.
- Dams and Waterways are prohibited areas to unaccompanied children under 14.
- Children’s Activities are not childcare services—parents must remain accessible and aware of their child’s location and activities at all times.
- Constables and event stewards are available to assist in case of lost children or emergencies, but primary responsibility remains with the parents. The Constabulary will be required to intervene when a very young child is unsupervised, a child is breaking the rules of festival, is in a prohibited area, is endangering themselves/ others or disturbing the peace.
- The Event Steward has the authority to impose a range of sanctions or restrictions in response to behaviour that is dangerous, disruptive or against the Festival Rules, up to and including expulsion from Festival.
Additional Guidelines
While these are some of the most important rules, they are not the only ones – please also review:
If you are bringing a child to the festival for whom you are not the legal guardian, you must complete a Nomination of Caregiver form.
Boffer Tourney Rules
- Parental Supervision: Children under 10 must have a parent or guardian present during the auction and tournament. A guardian may be responsible for more than one child, and their name will be recorded alongside the children they oversee.
- Extra Attention for Young Children: Parents of children under six should closely supervise matches and assist with instructions if needed. Encouragement and cheering, such as “Go on, hit them!” are welcome.
- Hydration & Sun Safety: Please bring water for young children and ensure older children have water bottles. Sunscreen and hats are highly recommended.
- Weapon Inspection: All boffers will be inspected at sign-up. While a common-sense approach will be taken, unsafe or under-padded weapons may be refused.
- Rules of Combat:
- The head is NOT a target. Any strikes to the head will result in forfeiting that match.
- Repeated infractions will lead to removal from the tournament.
- Blows to the body count as a kill.
- Blows to limbs result in the loss of that limb (as per heavy combat and rapier rules).
- Children will call their own shots, but marshals will gently enforce fair play.
- Prize Donations: If you’d like to donate a prize, bring it to the tournament with your name attached so we can recognise your generosity.
Thanks for reading, and we look forward to seeing many young warriors on the field!
A Safe and Fun Experience
Rowany Festival aims to create a welcoming environment where children and teens can engage in medieval-themed activities while remaining safe under proper supervision. With structured programs, trained volunteers, and clear safety guidelines, young attendees can enjoy an enriching and memorable festival experience.
Further Information
If you would like to volunteer at the Schola tent, provide another children’s activity, or for all other youth enquiries, please contact the Schola Coordinator at schola@festival.lochac.sca.org.
Below is a past Schola Timetable, providing an example of the activities typically available. Please note that this is for reference only and does not reflect the schedule for the upcoming Rowany Festival.
As the event approaches, this page will be updated with a complete list of Schola activities, so check back for more details!
VIEW TIMETABLE