Las Vegas: Tournament of Kings Show at Excalibur

Tournament of Kings turns dinner into a noisy medieval contest, with knights on horseback racing, jousting, and battling with swords only a short distance from the audience. King Arthur, maidens, a court jester, fire, smoke, and fog fill out the story.

I like the live horses because they give the show a sense of weight and risk that a stage-only performance cannot match. I also like the fact that dinner is included, and eating roasted chicken with your hands fits the setting better than a standard theater meal. The main drawback is the enclosed arena: horses, pyrotechnics, strobe lights, smoke, and fog may be uncomfortable or unsafe for people with epilepsy or strong sensitivities.

Key points to know before you book

• Horseback competition drives the show: Expect racing, jousting, and sword fighting from knights representing different sides of the story.
• Dinner is part of the performance: Roasted chicken, potatoes, corn, apple square, and a dinner roll make up the regular meal, with several special menus available.
• You sit close to the action: The arena has a dirt floor, and horses perform near the seating area.
• The theater effects are intense: Pyrotechnics, strobe lights, smoke, and fog are used inside the enclosed space.
• Small children have different rules: Children age three and younger may attend free, sit on an adult’s lap, and share that adult’s meal. Children age four and older need a full ticket.
• Bring little with you: Luggage, large bags, and backpacks are not allowed, and minors may not attend unaccompanied.

Entering Excalibur’s medieval arena

The setting does much of the work before the action begins. You head to Excalibur, take your assigned seat around the arena, and look down toward a dirt floor rather than a conventional stage. The arrangement puts you close to the horses, so the performance feels physical from the start.

That closeness is both a strength and a consideration. You can see the movement of the animals and the knights more clearly than you would from a distant theater seat. At the same time, you are not watching a quiet historical pageant. The arena includes smoke, fog, flashes, and pyrotechnics, all in an enclosed area.

The show is built around the world of King Arthur. The story includes bravery, treachery, chivalry, and a contest between knights. You do not need a detailed knowledge of Arthurian legends to follow the basic idea. The action is direct, visual, and easy to understand, which makes it a good choice for families and mixed-age groups.

Knights, horses, and the contest for chivalry

The central attraction is the mounted competition. Knights ride horses through tests of speed and skill, then face one another in jousting and sword fighting. This is not a museum demonstration or a simple stage reenactment. The animals, dirt, armor, and clashing weapons give the show a rougher feel than a standard musical or magic production.

I like the way these contests provide a clear reason to pay attention. You are encouraged to cheer for your knight, so the audience becomes part of the event. The cheering also helps younger children follow the action. They may not track every turn in the Arthur story, but they can understand a race, a charge, or a knight trying to win.

You should keep your expectations in the right place. This is a theatrical production, not a lesson in medieval warfare. The goal is excitement and pageantry. The show uses broad character types and a simple tale of courage and betrayal rather than careful historical detail.

The horses are the feature that separates Tournament of Kings from many Las Vegas stage shows. Their presence creates genuine movement and demands attention from both the performers and the audience. If you enjoy equestrian displays, this part may be worth the ticket on its own. If you are uneasy around animals or loud action, the close seating may feel less comfortable.

King Arthur, maidens, and the court jester

The knights do not carry the entire production. King Arthur helps anchor the story, while maidens sing and dance and the court jester adds comic relief. These elements break up the contests and give the show a more traditional dinner-theater rhythm.

The court jester is especially useful for families who need a lighter moment between bouts of combat. The singing and dancing add color, though they are not the main reason to choose this experience. I would think of them as supporting pieces around the mounted action.

The Arthurian theme also gives the evening a sense of occasion. You are not simply watching a sequence of stunts while eating dinner. The characters, rivalries, and appeals to chivalry give the contests a basic story shape.

Still, the presentation is broad and theatrical. If you want subtle character work or a serious dramatic treatment of Arthurian legend, this will probably feel too simple. If you want a clear story with action, costumes, animals, and audience participation, the format makes sense.

What arrives on your medieval dinner tray

Dinner is included with the show ticket, so you do not need to arrange a separate meal before taking your seat. The regular menu includes roasted chicken, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob, an apple square, and a dinner roll.

The meal is intentionally practical. Cutlery is not provided, and you eat with your hands, just as the medieval theme suggests. That may be amusing for children and part of the fun for adults, but it can also be messy. If you prefer a polished restaurant meal, this is not that experience.

The dinner matters when you compare the value of the ticket. You are paying for two parts of an evening: a live production and a substantial meal. The included food makes the event easier to plan for families, since you do not have to add dinner costs or find a restaurant before the show. The tradeoff is that you have little control over the meal format, and the lack of utensils is part of the setup.

Special menus are available, but you need to request them no later than four hours before the show. The choices are:

• Gluten-free: Roasted chicken, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob, and fresh fruit.
• Vegetarian: Pasta with marinara, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob, and fresh fruit.
• Vegan and dairy-free: Pasta with marinara without cheese, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes without butter, corn on the cob, and fresh fruit.
• Children ages four to twelve: Chicken tenders, fries, and an apple square.

The regular, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free menus are listed as nut-free and peanut-free. The kosher meal option is currently unavailable, so do not count on that choice. Because you eat with your hands, the pasta options may be less tidy than the chicken meal.

The practical reality of sitting near the horses

The close arena seating is one of the most memorable parts of the experience. You are near the dirt floor and the horses rather than separated from the action by a large stage. That helps you feel the movement of the competition, but it also means the setting can be loud and visually intense.

The production uses pyrotechnics, strobe lights, smoke, and fog. These effects are not minor background details. They are part of the show, and they may matter if you have epilepsy, light sensitivity, or discomfort with enclosed spaces and sudden effects. People with epilepsy should not book this experience.

Parents should also consider each child’s reaction to loud action, flashing lights, and nearby horses. All ages are welcome, but younger children may respond differently to the noise and effects than they do to a quiet theatrical performance.

Children three and younger may attend free of charge. They must sit on an adult’s lap and share that adult’s meal. Children age four and older are charged the full ticket price and receive their own seat and dinner. This rule can make the experience economical for a very young child, but a child who needs more space will require a full ticket once they reach the stated age.

Who gets the best value from this experience

I would recommend Tournament of Kings to families who want dinner and entertainment in one stop. The simple story, cheering, horses, and physical contests give children several ways to stay interested. The included meal also removes one decision from a busy Las Vegas evening.

It works well for adults who enjoy theatrical spectacle rather than intimate drama. The combination of horses, costumes, jousting, swordplay, singing, and fire gives you plenty to watch. It is also a useful choice when members of your group have different interests, since some may focus on the story while others enjoy the animal action or the meal.

The experience is less suitable if you want a quiet dinner, a refined menu, or a historically exact account of medieval life. It is also a poor match for anyone with epilepsy, or for someone who knows they dislike strobe lights, smoke, fog, and pyrotechnics.

The ticket’s value depends on how much use you make of the full package. If you already plan to eat and want a family-friendly show, the combination is practical. If you care mainly about food quality or a serious theatrical performance, the included dinner may not be enough to change your mind.

What to bring, and what to leave behind

Plan to arrive with only what you need for the evening. Luggage, large bags, and backpacks are not allowed, so do not treat the arena like a place to store your travel gear. This is especially important if you are moving between hotels, the airport, and the show.

Because cutlery is not provided, prepare to eat with your hands. The regular chicken meal suits that arrangement better than pasta, though the special menus are useful when dietary needs matter more than convenience.

Any special meal request must be made at least four hours before the show. Do this early rather than assuming you can change the meal at the door. The kosher option is unavailable at present.

Unaccompanied minors are not permitted. The experience welcomes children, but they need to attend with an accompanying adult. That rule is separate from the ticket policy for children age three and younger.

Should you book Tournament of Kings?

Book it if you want a lively, family-oriented evening where the dinner and show are combined. The horses are the main draw, and the racing, jousting, and sword fighting give the production more physical energy than a typical stage performance. King Arthur, the maidens, and the jester add enough story and variety to keep the event from becoming a series of disconnected stunts.

Think twice if you are sensitive to flashing lights, smoke, fog, or loud pyrotechnic effects. Also skip it if you want a quiet meal, utensils, or a sophisticated historical drama.

For the right audience, this is a straightforward Las Vegas choice: take a seat, cheer for a knight, eat with your hands, and let the arena do the rest.

FAQ

Where does Tournament of Kings take place?

The show takes place at Excalibur in Las Vegas, Nevada.

What does the show include?

Your ticket includes the live show and dinner.

What happens during the performance?

You watch knights ride horses, compete in horse racing, jousting, and sword fighting, while King Arthur, maidens, and a court jester help tell the story.

What is included in the regular dinner?

The regular meal includes roasted chicken, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob, an apple square, and a dinner roll.

Is cutlery provided?

No. Cutlery is not provided, and you eat the meal with your hands.

Are special dietary meals available?

Yes. Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and children’s meals are available according to the stated menu options. Special requests must be made no later than four hours before the show.

Is a kosher meal available?

No. The kosher meal option is currently unavailable.

Can young children attend free?

Children age three and younger may attend free of charge. They must sit on an adult’s lap and share that adult’s meal. Children age four and older need a full-price ticket, their own seat, and their own dinner.

Are there any important safety concerns?

The show includes horses, pyrotechnics, strobe lights, smoke, and fog in an enclosed area. People with epilepsy should not attend. Luggage, large bags, and backpacks are not allowed, and minors may not attend unaccompanied.