People generally gather at the gates before they open. Buy your tickets ahead of time or online for better pricing. Many people dress up. You don't have to. They have maps on site and are good at passing them around. Definitely hit up the jousting and at least a couple shows. Lots of shopping to be had, but I would suggest making the rounds of all the shops and getting a sense of pricing before stopping into any particular place. You're going to have tons of fun! Enjoy!
Just have fun and relax each weekend has a different theme. So much to do and see, you can dress up if you want. Food and drink are good, plenty of shows to watch. This coming weekend is fantasy.
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