Magical Winter Knights at the Budweiser Events Center will offer an escape from the present with a village fair, nobles' feast and jousting tournament.

"(People) have their dreams and fantasies, and to bring something together to have people escape the mundane world and to open up their minds, to be entertained by the event, in the end, it's the main reason I am doing it," said Shane Adams, owner and executive producer of the event and of The Knights of Valour, a full contact jousting team.

Adams hosted and was the executive producer for "Full Metal Jousting," a reality show,on the History Channel.

Magical Winter Knights is Dec. 29-30 at the Budweiser Events Center, 5290 Arena Circle, Loveland

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"I think people, especially at this time of year, are looking for a special, unique thing to do after Christmas," Adams said. "This is something for all families to come together to enjoy."

Adams, of Ohio, grew up on a horse farm in Ontario, Canada dreaming of being a knight in shining armor.

"I just held on to the dream and made it happen for myself," he said.

He grew his company in Canada, rebuilding the sport of jousting step by step.

"Not only did I have to recreate the sport itself, I had to give it a rebirth into the modern world," Adams said.

The game features two contestants with wooden lances on horse back that earn points by trying to hit and dismount the other rider.

Magical Winter Knights is the first time Adams is adding a Village Fair and Nobles' Feast to a jousting tournament, an idea he credits to his children.

"I would like to take all the credit for this, but I have to give some to my four -year-old and nine-year-old that have the fantasy of the days gone by," he said.

Village Fair

"Walk into an indoor facility and take a step back in time," Adams said. The Village Fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. both days in the First National Bank Building next to the Budweiser Events Center.

The marketplace will feature vendors of fantasy or renaissance items like hand-stitched clothing and swords.

"For people who have never seen a fairy with the wingspan of six feet, we have those as well," Adams said.

There will be live entertainment throughout both days.

"Two stages showcasing some of the best renaissance entertainers," Adams said.

For the kids, there will be a Kids' Kingdom with arts and crafts.

Tickets for the Village Fair only are $10.

Nobles' Feast

"For the people who come to the feast, those are the people who truly want to embrace the celebration of the middle ages," Adams said.

At a medieval meal of basics — chicken, ribs and potatoes — guests eat like and with royalty. No utensils will be found at this dining experience; it's hands only.

The feast is at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cost is $55, including the jousting tournament.

Jousting Tournament

This is not a theatrical performance. The lances are not made to splinter, like they were for royalty. The riders are taking real hits from solid wooden lances.

"I wanted to bring something that much more to the masses, and the only way to do that was to bring forth the solid wooden lances," Adams said.

Although the sport is medieval, the safety measures are not. Padding, stronger metal for armor and physical conditioning all help to keep the riders safe.

The tournament features six of the top jousters from the U.S., Canada and Mexico, including world champion Charlie Andrews of Eagle Mountain, Utah.

"I've been hit doing a lot of different sports, there is nothing like this," Andrews said.

Always a horseman, Andrews started the sport by doing theatrical performances, but he wanted to try the real thing.

"I am a horseman and I like full contact sports and this combines the two," he said.

When Andrews started 17 years ago, there wasn't a lot of ways to learn the sport.

"How you learned was you got on and you knocked off...a lot," he said.

Andrews said being a big guy helps in the game, but he also rides his horses five hours a day and practices hitting targets.

"You can be the biggest dude, the baddest guy, but if you can't hit the guy, it's not gonna matter," he said.

It also takes a winning team to succeed.

"I give all the credit to my horse. Your horse in 99 percent the ingredient in being successful in jousting," he said. Andrews' main partner is his horse, Jagermeister.

"He has big heart and is absolutely fearless, and he has actually learned the sport... He could joust with a monkey on him holding a stick," he said.

"We love our horses. That's my number one concern, for the safety and health for my horse," Andrews said. During the tournament, spectators may notice the riders drop the reigns before a hit. It is required for the riders to do so for the safety of the animal, so when the rider falls, they do not pull the reigns, which could cause the horse to get yanked backwards or fall over.

According to Adams, about 80 percent of the horses used in the tournaments are rescues.

"It's doesn't matter what the horse looks like or what it's conformation (structure) is, as long as he has heart and can carry me to victory," Adams said.

The tournaments will be at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cost is $30 for general admission to the tournament and the Village Fair, or $55 for VIP general admission to the tournament and the fair and feast.

For tickets or more information, go to budweisereventscenter.com or extremejousting.com.

Michelle Vendegna: 970-699-5407, vendegnam@reporterherald.com