ELVES, barbarians and Game of Thrones-inspired lords, ladies and dragons ruled the grounds at the 19th Balingup Medieval Carnivale.
Big crowds flocked to the popular event over the weekend for old favourites like medieval martial arts, live music, reptiles, birds of prey, markets and demonstrations of medieval skills, games and crafts - not to mention new spectacles such as horseback archery.
The standard of costumes over the weekend helped to transform the carnival into a whole other place and time.
The rise of fantasy in popular culture thanks to shows like Game of Thrones and movies like The Hobbit definitely made its presence felt, with many more elves and barbarians roaming the grounds than in previous years, and many of those sporting spectacular handmade costumes, leatherwork and weapons.
Following the always popular parade, where armoured knights marched in close quarters with fairies, festival drummers and many other folk, Vikings King Jarl and Queen Maeve claimed rulership as the new Carnivale King and Queen in the name of Odin, usurping their power from last year’s King Jamie and Queen Bronwyn.
