Welcome to the home of Paragon Jousting and Adventure Theater

Paragon Jousting is a theatrical joust troupe providing armored jousting suitable for renaissance faires, public festivals and private functions. We provide a wide array of entertaining and educational shows suitable for a variety of audiences. Whether you want heavily armored knights charging at each other with lances leveled, wheeling horses as the knights resort to the sword to win the day, or unarmored riders demonstrating their prowess with sword and lance in a variety of chivalric games of skill, Paragon has a show for you.

NEWS...

2009-12-11

Apollo, Becca and Scott provided horse-drawn wagon rides for the Annual "Christmas in Aurora" celebration in Aurora, New York. The Paragon Team broke out the purple wagon and decked it out with festive decorations, complete with working Christmas Lights, and shuttled holiday revelers around the village of Aurora for this special evening of holiday fun! Becca drove the wagon, Apollo pulled the wagon, and Scott rode along and drank hot cider. This event is a personal favorite for Apollo, who said he especially enjoyed the Lighting of the Tree at the Morgan Opera House, as well as the Hot Cider and Roasted Chestnuts. Great fun was had by all, and we look forward to returning again next year to help The Aurora Arts and Merchants Association with this wonderful event!

2009-11-11

The 2009 touring season has ended, and we are getting ready for 2010! We're expecting more shows, in more places, and bigger shows with lots of new surprises!

To that end, when The Connecticut Renaissance Faire ended, Scott spent a few more days running around New England, and came home with two new horses for the Paragon Jousting herd. Paragon Jousting has acquired a Friesian Andalusian cross, standing at about 16.2 hands, and a Missouri Foxtrotter at about 15 hands who will be a perfect Match for Mister Mister. Both horses are black, show great aptitude for jousting, and have already started their training at Paragon Stables in Aurora, New York. Watch for profiles and pictures on our newest warhorses coming up soon!

We're also very excited to announce our new relationship with House Shadow Wolf who is now the OFFICIAL armor sponsor for Paragon Jousting. Click on over to our Links page and check them out.

And one more profile update for you. We've updated the profile for Zeus so don't forget to take a look there.

2009-11-10

On the back of that, it's profile madness. I'll just say get over to the Performers page and check out the profiles for Bill, Missy and Andy Hitchcock. When you're done there, take a look at the updated profile for Seth Holmes, Paragon Jousting's oldest employee and newest Knight. And that's just updates for tonight. Coming over the next couple of days, more profile updates, more pictures and perhaps a whole new look. Keep checking back.

2009-10-18

What a fantastic run we had at The Connecticut Renaissance Faire. Despite a cold and wet (and in some places snowy) final day, we had a great time, as usual, in Connecticut. If you missed it, we plan to be back next year and we've got some awesome pictures on the way. Also keep your eyes open for changes to the site. After 5 years, it's time for a change. Keep checking back.

2009-09-15

This Thursday, September 17, Mister Mister will be competing in Morgan Idol at NY Morgan Horse Show at the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY. Mister Mister has asked our own Apollo to be his partner during the competition, a great honor for a non-Morgan Horse.

Also appearing as "passengers" will be Becca Cooper and Scott Rodlin as well as the Paragon Jousting squire team.

Editor's Note: This press release was written by a certain Morgan Horse.

2009-09-14

We are one week removed from The Great New York State Faire and what a great time we had. We performed in three packed shows with four horses on the field. Jousting were the team of Sir Devon with Apollo, Dame Fiona with Shadow, Sir Solomon with Zeus and as Master of the List, Sir William Sidney with Paladin. For a little fun, check out this clip from the show and accompanying news piece courtesy of YNN Rochester, NY. We're looking forward to a return in 2010.

Now, we begin to look forward. In less than two weeks we will be returning for our 6th straight season at The Connecticut Renaissance Faire. We'll be there four weekends, including a Monday, Columbus Day show, beginning on Saturday, September 26. Come out and see all your Paragon Jousting favorites and some new faces as well. Plus some old faces doing some new things. Anything goes when we return to CTRF.

2009-8-28

It's just a little over a week until you can see Paragon Jousting in Syracuse, NY at The Great New York State Faire. Paragon Jousting will be performing three shows at 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm in the Coca-Cola Coliseum. The three shows will be different but there will be a fully armored joust in each one. And once the carnage is done, you can meet the knights and their horses. We're looking forward to our return to the Great New York State Faire in Syracuse on its final day, Labor Day, Monday September 7.

2009-8-13

Our normally flawless webmaster (that's me) has made an error. Paragon Jousting is scheduled to go on at 4pm, not 6pm. See details below or our Schedule Page.

2009-8-8

This is one of those good news, bad news posts. We'll start with the good news.

This weekend, Paragon Jousting will be taking part in the 2nd Annual Renaissance Festival at Griswold Veterans Memorial Park in Jewett City, CT. August 15 if you want to make certain you've got the date right. The event begins at 11am and Paragon Jousting goes on at 4pm. This will be our first year at this event. Oh, did I forget to mention it's FREE? Some come down, enjoy some food and other entertainment and cap it all off by cheering on your favorite Jousters.

The bad news, our previously announced appearance at Miracles in Motion in Keene, NH has, unfortunately, been canceled. The economy is hitting everyone and you can still support Miracles in Motion through their website. Should the event be rescheduled for a later date, I'm certain they will announce it both on their site as well as being able to read about it here. We wish them all the best and look forward to re-joining them in 2010.

And in other news, which I'll file under good news, more pictures from Aurorafest have been added to the Gallery Page. Looking forward to seeing folks this weekend.

2009-8-2

We got some great pictures at Aurorafest last month. And for those who missed it, you can see pictures now in our new Aurorafest 2009 Gallery. Thanks to the great photographers who send us all these fantastic pictures.

2009-7-15

Aurorafest was an amazing success. Despite the threat of rain canceling the parade, we went on. Five of the Paragon Jousting horses, Paladin, Zeus, Shadow and Mister Mister bearing riders and Apollo pulling the Paragon Wagon, took part in the parade. This was the first public appearance for Zeus with Paragon Jousting and he handled it all like a pro.

Then it was off to the joust field where hundreds of people sat and watched as Sir Devon on Apollo, Dame Fiona on Zeus and (evil alter ego of Sir Solomon) Lord Helmut on Max (Shadow's alter ego) took part in a three way competition with Sir William on Paladin presiding. Taking care of everything on the ground was Bill, Missy and Andy Hitchcock. (Incidentally, "Wild Bill" Hitchcock also drives the Paragon Wagon.)

The crowd cheered on Sir Devon and Dame Fiona, as they championed the people, the town and good burgers, and eagerly booed Lord Helmut as the latter tried to destroy Aurorafest and turn the town to his bidding. The unlikely paring did defeat Lord Helmut and Aurorafest survived.

The evening continued with great food and non-stop bands including our own Marshall Anderson playing with his band, "Visions of Cody." The night was capped with a fantastic fireworks display over Lake Cayuga.

The reception from the people of Aurora was fantastic. People stopped us throughout the evening and into the next day, to tell us what a great time they'd had. From Paragon Jousting, it was just a little something to give back to the town which has made us all feel so welcome. We were happy and honored to be a part of this annual event. And here's looking forward to Aurorafest 2010.

2009-6-30

Paragon Jousting will be performing at the annual "Aurorafest" celebration in Aurora, New York. We will begin by leading the Aurorafest Parade down Main Street. We'll have 5 of the Paragon warhorses in the parade, and Apollo will once again be pulling the Paragon wagon with some special guests. After the parade, Scott and Marshall will be jousting, and Becca will be hanging up her armor for the day, and donning a dress as Master of the List. She will be riding on Zeus for his debut performance with Paragon Jousting. The ground crew will be our local Aurora team of Bill, Missy and Andy Hitchcock. After the joust the festivities continue when Marshall will (hopefully) remove his armor and pick up a guitar to perform with his band "Visions of Cody". A full lineup of musicians will continue on until dark when fireworks will light up the skies over Lake Cayuga. We're all looking forward to having some fun with the hometown crowd and the Finger Lakes community we call home.

2009-6-23

Earlier this month (June 5 to be exact), Scott, Becca and Apollo were guests at 'Medieval Days' for the Geneva Central School district in Geneva, New York. This was an afternoon of activities and medieval themed learning. Paragon Jousting's most experienced Jousters answered questions about the medieval knight and did a mounted demonstration of Knightly Skills. A good time was had by all. It was not only a great opportunity for students to learn about a time period long ago, but a chance to see it live and in person and get wrapped up in all the excitement.

To find out how to bring Paragon Jousting to your school's event, contact us at

2009-6-02

Paragon Jousting is excited to announce our presence in the state of New Hampshire as we join Miracles in Motion at their Medieval Faire in Swanzey, NH. This benefit show has become an annual event for Miracles in Motion.

Miracles in Motion has been around since 1999 and has been holding this event since 2007. As a charitable organization, they are a member the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association improving the physical, emotional and cognitive independence of these handicapped individual and promote their self-esteem. When you come to this event, you not only get to watch the excitement that is Paragon Jousting but you also help a worthy cause.

2009-4-27

A happy ending to some sad news

In September 2008, Paragon Jousting purchased its newest warhorse from a jousting troupe in Wisconsin. Zeus is an 18.1hh Shire/Percheron cross, and is about 9 years old. Not long after he arrived in New York, his right eye began running and it was clear that something was wrong. On January 12, 2009, the specialists at The Cornell School of Veterinarian Medicine in Ithaca, NY diagnosed Zeus with cancer. He had a tumor that had consumed this third eyelid and attacked the lower lid of his right eye.

There were three options for Zeus:

1. Euthanasia.
2. Removal of his entire right eye and the surrounding eye socket.
3. Surgical removal of the tumor followed by radiation therapy.

With the hope of saving Zeus and his eye we chose option three. The specialists at Cornell completely removed his third eyelid and the inside of the lower lid. The surgery was followed by localized radiation therapy to the affected eye socket, to destroy the remaining carcinoma and retard future growth.

Zeus recovered well from the surgery, and appears perfectly healthy and happy. We don't know what the long term future will hold for Zeus, as this type of cancer can be very aggressive. For now he's back to his normal life of playing with his friends and training. Zeus will continue to travel and work with the rest of the troupe, and we will continue to provide the best care we can for this valiant horse.

Zeus is a great role model to us all, and we hope he can be an inspiration to others in overcoming adversity, never quitting, and living life to the fullest.

2009-4-11

We've begun posting our Schedule of Upcoming Shows. Dates are filling up fast.

2009-2-8

Paragon Jousting is going to THE KENTUCKY DERBY... kind of.

As many of you may remember, Paragon Jousting was featured in "The Literary Horse: When Legends Come to Life", an exhibit that pairs photos of today's riders with quotations from the world's greatest books. The exhibit opened in Chelmsford, MA and spent January in Burlington, MA. the exhibit is now on its way to Buxton, ME.

What does this have to do with The Kentucky Derby? We recently received word from Vanessa Wright, the woman who created "The Literary Horse" who told us the exhibit has been invited to the Oldham County Public Library in La Grange for The 2009 Kentucky Derby. That's not the only stop in The Bluegrass State. The exhibit has also been invited to the Central Library in downtown Lexington, KY for The 2010 World Equestrian Games and continues to have bookings throughout 2011 with requests pouring in from the US, Canada as well as abroad.

That's not even the best part of it all. One particular image of a certain Paragon Jouster charging toward the camera, paired with The St Crispin's Day Speech from Shakespeare's Henry V, has reportedly moved many people, particularly those with family in the military. As a result of the effect on one particular person, the exhibit has been invited to the US Marine Core library at West Point, and may even be their installation for this year's graduation.

It goes without saying that everyone in Paragon Jousting is thrilled with the reception which "The Literary Horse" has received so far in New England. As it travels around the country, we hope everyone gets a chance to go see this magnificent exhibit.