I Celebrated My 34th Birthday at Medieval Times and It Was the Most Fun I've Had All Year

I live in New York City, so my closest Medieval Times outpost is nestled off a tangle of highways and overpasses in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Not-quite-charming surroundings aside, there was something truly magical about pulling off the exit with the castle's—and it is a castle—towering turret in view. My car-full of fellow 30-somethings actually cheered as we approached.

As enamored as we already were with the facade, walking inside is what brought on the real gasps. After my group checked in (and received our signature paper crowns), we strolled into the Hall of Arms, the grandiose main room decked out in elaborate castlecore decor. It is here where you can peruse weaponry (including recreations of legendary swords like Excalibur), rub elbows with the king and queen (our gracious hosts for the evening) and pre-game the main event by hitting the bar before the show.

'Tis, of course, also an excellent spot for photo ops, and given that I went all out with my outfit (shout-out to Dolls Kill on Amazon), I took full advantage.

While there's definitely a mix of families with children, we attended the latest show on a Saturday night (7:30 p.m.), which seemed to have more of an older crowd—something to keep in mind when booking a slot. That said, exploring the Hall of Arms and nerding out surrounded by other on-theme attendees around my age was a highlight of the experience, not least of all because it really helped build up my excitement for the big show ahead.

Each Medieval Times ticket (starting at $46) includes the price of a four-course feast to enjoy during the show, which includes nonalcoholic soft drinks, as well as tea or coffee, served with dessert. Beer, wine and other libations, however, are an additional cost, and like I mentioned, they can be ordered at the bar beforehand or ordered with your server during your meal.

Now, the drinks are pricey (I paid upwards of $20 for each of mine) but they're good—and big. Each one comes in a large glass that you can actually keep as a souvenir and, as a bonus, use to get a refill discount on your next round. There are also other vessels like steins and horns available for purchase, the latter of which one of my friends bought and displayed with pride for the rest of the evening.

There's a range of specialty cocktails offered, like the Maiden's Kiss (vodka, peach Schnapps, strawberry), along with a lineup of frozen sips including a strawberry daiquiri, piña colada and frozen margarita. I opted for the regular marg (double shot of tequila) and was definitely pleased with my choice—slightly sweet, appropriately tangy and decently strong. Who's to say they didn't have margaritas in the Middle Ages?

By the time we were ushered into the arena, I was ravenous, so I was very much looking forward to our "feast"—which, FYI, is served sans utensils. Not there's really any need for them. The first course is a crispy piece of garlic bread (bit of a stretch to call this a "course," but alas), while the second is a tasty tomato soup served in a handled bowl made for slurping.

Next up is the main dish: a buttered corn cob, herby potato and half a roast chicken. The portions for the sides are pretty small, but the food was yummy—the chicken especially. Tender, juicy and ready to gnaw right into while holding it from the bone, which I very much did in a rather non-elegant manner. They do provide you with wet wipes between courses, but I'd also suggest keeping some hand sanitizer within reach, just so you're not caught with chicken juice on your fingers when a handsome knight hands you a rose (uh, not that I would know anything about that).

Dessert is the castle's choice, so it may differ from show to show or location to location. We were treated to miniature eclairs (served somewhat chilled), which I paired with a warm coffee. Though the feast wasn't exactly what I'd call royal fare, it definitely left us full up and satisfied, and, more importantly, fueled us through the real reason we were all there: the tournament!

Now, the whole point of going to Medieval Times is to witness an action-packed show and tournament. Each seating section is grouped by color, which corresponds to your section's knight—who you spend the rest of the evening cheering on like they're you're favorite quarterback.

The show starts with a grand procession of the royal court, and features multiple showcases of horsemanship, including a dressage performance (essentially, horse dancing), which my bestie Val—an actual medieval historian—explained to me as we watched. (On that note, she pointed out a number of historical inaccuracies throughout but still had a blast, so that's saying something.)

Of course, it all leads up to the big combat scenes. The knights compete in rounds of jousting (thrilling!) and face each other in sword fights (dramatic!). There are twists and turns and triumphs. It's theater meets athleticism meets historical fantasy, and it is so much fun. I'm pretty sure half my friends lost their voice the next day because they were screaming so much—something that is totally encouraged and makes the whole stadium feel electric.

So, is this an overhyped TikTok trend or something genuinely worth doing?

Though it required trekking outside of the city and dropping a not-insignificant amount of dough on tickets, the whole Medieval Times experience was unique, immersive and such a fresh deviation from my crew's regular weekend routine. Not to mention (again), a welcome excuse to play dress-up and channel some childhood make-believe. Honestly, I would recommend it to everyone—but especially my fellow millennials seeking something new to do on a Saturday night (with or without their kids).

If this all sounds up your alley, here's what else you should know before planning your excursion back to the Middle Ages.

Tickets are $75 per person for adults, and $46 for kids 10 and under. It's best to purchase tickets for your entire group under one booking, which guarantees that you'll be seated together in the stadium (however, I found the company's customer service to be very helpful in situating my large group). There are also various packages available for larger parties and events.

Per the website, some dietary restrictions can be accommodated during the feast, as there are vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free meals available upon request.

No, you don't have to dress up in medieval fashions to attend—but I think it makes it more fun.

Lastly, there are nine Medieval Times locations scattered across the U.S. (as well as one in Toronto), so find your closest one here.