- How much are tickets?
- Am I supposed to wear a costume?
- How do I get to the event site?
- Is parking free? Where can I park?
- If I leave the event, can I get back in?
- What time does the event open and close?
- Will there be food and drinks available for purchase?
- Can I bring my own food and drink onto the site? What about food/drink for my infant? What if I have special dietary needs?
- Is this event suitable for young children?
- How old does my child have to be to require a ticket?
- Is the site handicapped accessible?
- Is there an ATM on site?
- Can I smoke on site?
- Can I take pictures (including flash pictures) and/or video tape at the event?
- Where can I find the Schedule of Events?
- Are there covered areas in case of rain?
- Can I bring my pet on site?
- Can I pet/feed the horses?
- Can I pet/feed the knights?
- Will there be any entertainment other than jousting?
- In what way is "Lysts on the Lake" the largest competitive jousting tournament in the world?
- What is the International Jousting League (IJL)?
- Are all competitors at "Lysts on the Lake" members of the IJL?
- How are the competitors chosen?
- Is this really a competition, or is it choreographed?
- How does the competition actually work?
- Who won last year's "Lysts on the Lake"?
- How often do competitors get injured?
- Can girls joust?
- Where/how can I learn to joust?
- What kind of horses do the competitors ride?
- Do the horses have some kind of special training?
- How is "Lysts on the Lake" different from a renaissance faire?
- Can I volunteer to help?
- What hotels/motels/campgrounds are nearby?
1. How much are tickets?
Bought online, ticket prices are: Friday — Adults & Youths(ages 6 - 16) $16; Saturday & Sunday — Adults $20, Youths(ages 6 - 16) $18.
At the gate, ticket prices are: Friday — Adults & Youths(ages 6 - 16) $19; Saturday & Sunday — Adults $24, Youths(ages 6 - 16) $22. Children 5 and under are always free.
2. Am I supposed to wear a costume?
You are welcome to come in costume if you would like but it is not required.
3. How do I get to the event site?
The event is being held at the East Williamson County Event Center, 210 Carlos G Parker Blvd NW, Taylor, TX. A map and directions can be found here.
4. Is parking free? Where can I park?
Yes! There is plenty of free parking available at the arena.
5. If I leave the event, can I get back in?
If you leave the event, you can re-enter on the same day as long as you have your hand stamped before you exit the arena.
6. What time does the event open and close?
Friday, the gate opens at Noon and closes at 9:00PM; Saturday and Sunday the gate opens at 9:30AM and closes at 7:00PM. See also the Schedule of Events.
7. Will there be food and drinks available for purchase?
Yes, there will be a variety of food and drink vendors available onsite.
8. Can I bring my own food and drink onto the site? What about food/drink for my infant? What if I have special dietary needs?
We ask that you not bring any outside food or drink into the venue unless there is a dietary need or for your infant. No alcohol will allowed inside the venue.
9. Is this event suitable for young children?
Yes! Children will love meeting the knights and horses and experiencing the renaissance of competitive jousting!
10. How old does my child have to be to require a ticket?
Children 6 and up will need to have their own ticket. Children 5 and under receive free admission.
11. Is the site handicapped accessible?
Yes.
12. Is there an ATM on site?
Yes
13. Can I smoke on site?
In designated areas only.
14. Can I take pictures (including flash pictures) and/or video tape at the event?
Personal photographs as allowed but, please, no commercial photography or videography. The site Producer, a’Plaisance, Ltd. retains all commercial photography and videography rights to the event.
15. Where can I find the Schedule of Events?
Right here!
16. Are there covered areas in case of rain?
Yes. The arena and bleachers are all covered.
17. Can I bring my pet on site?
Pets are not allowed on site, with the exception of service animals.
18. Can I pet/feed the horses?
Only with the express permission of the owner of the horse.
19. Can I pet/feed the knights?
Only with the express permission of the owner of the knight.
20. Will there be any entertainment other than jousting?
Yes! In addition to the Equestrian competitions, there will be foot combat as well. Check out the schedule for more information.
21. In what way is "Lysts on the Lake" the largest competitive jousting tournament in the world?
According to the records of the International Jousting League, "Lysts on the Lake 2012" will be the largest IJL affiliated jousting tournament in their history. The number of competitors from this year is more than double the size of "Lysts on the Lake 2011", which currently holds the record as the largest competitive jousting tournament.
22. What is the International Jousting League (IJL)?
The International Jousting League or IJL is the largest competitive jousting organization in the world today. The IJL boasts over 300 international competitors in over 20 countries around the world. The IJL serves to organize jousters, jousting troupes and jousting tournaments all over the world. According to the IJL website:
The League supports affiliates' equestrian, historical and competitive interests.
The League examines tournaments' affiliation files.
The League advertises regulations of the affiliated tournaments.
The League audits the affiliated tournaments.
The League publishes the results of the affiliated tournaments.
The League computes the international ranking of its affiliates.
The League provides information and advice for tournament organizers.
23. Are all competitors at "Lysts on the Lake" members of the IJL?
Most, but not quite all, of the competitors are members of the IJL.
24. How are the competitors chosen?
"Lysts on the Lake" is an Open tournament, which means that anyone with the proper equipment and experience can compete. However, all competitors must submit their application to participate during a specific application period. If you missed out on this year's application period, keep an eye on the application site for the opportunity to participate in next year's tournament.
25. Is this really a competition, or is it choreographed?
This is a real competition! Nothing is choreographed. "Lysts on the Lake" is a true sporting event. For an explanation of how the equestrian competitions work, check out the pages for the Joust a'Plaisance, Melee a'Cheval, and Skill at Arms.
26. How does the competition actually work?
Competitors will compete in three equestrian events, the Joust, Melee a'Cheval and Skill at Arms. There is also a competition for the Award of Honour which is based on how honourably competitors behave throughout the event. Prizes will be awarded to the winners of each individual event, as well as the overall tournament champion.
27. Who won last year's "Lysts on the Lake"?
Last year, Steve Hemphill won the Joust a'Plaisance. The Melee a' Cheval was won by Dave Wise, and Dustin Stephens won the Skill at Arms and the Award of Honour. The overall Champion for "Lysts on the Lake 2011" was Dustin Stephens.
28. How often do competitors get injured?
Due to the high level of training and armour standards, injuries to our competitors are fairly rare.
29. Can girls joust?
Absolutely! "Lysts on the Lake 2012" will have 12 female competitors overall. Seven plan to compete in the Joust a'Plaisance, six in the Melee a'Cheval and eleven in the Skill at Arms.
30. Where/how can I learn to joust?
If you are interested in learning to joust, you should check out the Chivalric Martial Arts International symposium, happening the week before Lysts.
31. What kind of horses do the competitors ride?
At this year's Lysts, the competitors will be riding horses of many different breeds, including Belgians, Percherons, Friesians, Andalusians, American Quarter Horses, Paints and Thoroughbreds.
32. Do the horses have some kind of special training?
Yes! Training a horse to Joust, run the Skill at Arms and fight in the Melee requires a significant amount of time and specialized practice. To find out more about the training of the horses(and knights!) we invite you to consider attending the Chivalric Martial Arts International symposium.
33. How is "Lysts on the Lake" different from a renaissance faire?
Unlike many renaissance faires where the joust is usually a choreographed show, "Lysts on the Lake" is a genuine sporting event which is affiliated with the International Jousting League. Each competitor’s score will be ranked with all the other jousting competitors in the IJL.
34. Can I volunteer to help? Even if I don't have experience working with horses?
Yes! Although some positions do require horse experience, we have many other volunteer positions. Simply fill out the Volunteer Form, and our volunteer coordinator will get in touch with you!
35. What hotels/motels/campgrounds are nearby?
There are several hotels nearby:
Americas Best Value Inn
1907 North Main Street, Taylor, TX (1.1 mi SE)
(512) 352-6676
Best Western Taylor Inn
2600 West 2nd Street, Taylor, TX (2.4 mi S)
For those with RVs:
Blackland Farms RV Park
1800 County Road 374, Taylor, TX2.4 mi NW
(512) 352-6853
36. Can I bring a tent and camp onsite?
Unfortunately, there is no tent camping allowed for the audience onsite.