Bangkok’s Medieval Gathering 2025 event opened on Saturday, attracting cosplayers, swordfighters, archers, blacksmiths, mead brewers, and dancers to a one-day event featuring all things Medieval—and the Renaissance, and Heian period Japan, and ancient China, and vampires and Harry Potter for some reason.  

 

At these events, there are invariable questions about historical accuracy, thematic consistency, and appropriation. The answer to all of those questions is shut up and drink some mead, nerd. 

 

Held at the Medieval Village Thailand next to the Legendary Wargame shop in Nonthaburi, the festivities were overseen by a giant Warhammer statue, featuring performances and competitions from the Bangkok Shinkonkai, Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), and Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) Armored Combat. 

 

One of the more popular events, for obvious reasons, turned out to be the longsword competition, pitting 20 kitted out knights against one another in gruelling battle—and even more grueling heat in the Bangkok sun under several kilos of armor and safety gear. 

 

 

The competition was a chance to put the European weapons against Asian ones, as longswords tested their mettle against katanas, with a complex point system based on slashing, stabbing, and submission. 

 

“I started when I was 15,” says Ryan Gifford, a sword fighter from England in town from Korea for the gathering who, adorably, asked for his lady’s favor before his first bout. He’s been sword fighting for 34 years.

 

 

 

The bouts took place to a rousing drum performance, courtesy of an acrobatic performance troupe performing Fon Jerng Dab, Thai sword dancing—in this case involving a flying naga and a choreographed all-out battle. 

 

For hopeful knights errant, the sparring blades were on sale at the event, coming from the local Freell Armoury. Longswords and naginata were popular on the day, but this place has every type of sparing blade, whether you want to be a legionnaire with a gladius or a Klingon with a bat'leth. 

 

 

For real swords, Siamese Edge is nearby, and there was a blacksmithing demonstration as the day began to wind to a close. Crowds were treated to a show of their quality as a longsword and saber chopped down bamboo mats. 

 

Other than the sword fighting, the other major competition took place at the far end of the property, with be-costumed archers trying to take home the festival’s trophy—alongside a booth area hawking archery products from Vermil. 

 

Dance, too, was on the menu, with traditional Medieval dances from a troupe of four, who would go on to take crowds of around 70 on a whirling dance under the tented area. For music, there was an in-costume performer playing an honest-to-god hurdy gurdy. For the younger crew, the heraldry drawing proved a big hit. 

 

 

Beyond the blades, there was outdoor grilling with hunks of meat proper medieval style (with better hygiene), along with on-brand Dragon’s Den trinkets and jewelry. Peasants could head into Legendary Warhammer for a drink or two, but there was also a treat in the form of mead brewed by Lunamel Meadery—free to try. 

 

It’s not just for show. HEMA and Shinkonkai live that life. They have lessons, so if you think you’ve got the stuff to be next year’s knight-in-shining-armor, you’re going to need to be visiting Thailand’s Medieval Village on the regular.