Robin Hood Festival in Sherwood Forest

Sherwood Forest is transformed into the thirteenth century during the first week of August each year in honor of Nottinghamshire's famed outlaw. Over the course of a quarter-century, the Robin Hood Festival has evolved into a type of pop-up village, with booths and activities distributed around a square half-mile of woods that can be comfortably circumnavigated in an hour or so.

The itinerary varies slightly from day to day, but archery lessons are always available for a small fee, and most days feature high-octane jousting and rather vicious skirmishing between Robin Hood and the evil Sheriff's men in the shade of the Major Oak, a massive tree that is said to be over 800 years old and draws a lot of attention in its own right. The celebration is a dream come true for young boys and girls who have always wanted to be Robin Hood or Maid Marian.

Green felt hats, bows, and arrows, and flower garlands are common fancy-dress props, and youngsters can participate in dramatic re-enactments of the Robin Hood narrative on a daily basis, much to their parent's amusement.

Website: http://www.robinhoodfestival.org/