Las Vegas: Tournament of Kings Show at Excalibur

King Arthur’s court comes to life inside Excalibur, where knights charge across a dirt arena, horses thunder past the grandstands, and sword fights unfold close to your table. I like the way the live horses and jousting make this more than a stage show, and I like that dinner is included, so you are not paying for a separate meal afterward.

The main consideration is the enclosed setting. You sit near horses and dirt, with pyrotechnics, smoke, fog, and strobe lights. That makes the show exciting, but it may not suit anyone with epilepsy or anyone who dislikes loud, close-up theatrical effects.

Key Points Before You Book

• A full medieval production: King Arthur, maidens, a court jester, knights, racing, jousting, sword fighting, and special effects share one arena.
• Horses are part of the action: You sit close to the animals and the dirt floor, not far away in a conventional theater.
• Dinner comes with the ticket: The standard meal includes roasted chicken, potatoes, corn, an apple square, and a dinner roll.
• You eat with your hands: Cutlery is not provided, which fits the medieval theme but may be awkward for some diners.
• Several meal options are available: Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and children’s meals are listed, but special requests must be made at least four hours before showtime.

Entering Excalibur’s Tournament Arena

The experience begins at Excalibur, the castle-themed resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. You head inside to the Tournament of Kings arena, take your assigned seat, and settle in for a theatrical version of the King Arthur legend.

This is not a quiet dinner theater. The arena has a dirt floor and seating arranged close to the action. That setup gives the show a physical quality that a regular theater cannot match. You see the horses moving through the space, hear the clash of staged combat, and watch the knights perform from only a short distance away.

The setting also shapes your expectations. You are not attending a historically accurate account of medieval Britain. This is a colorful Las Vegas production built around familiar Arthurian characters, bold action, humor, music, and spectacle. If you want a polished evening of pageantry with a clear good-versus-evil story, the format works well.

King Arthur, Knights, and a Story of Treachery

The central tale follows King Arthur and his knights as bravery and treachery come into play. The story gives the action a reason to unfold, rather than presenting one disconnected stunt after another.

You will see knights compete in tests that include horse racing, jousting, and sword fighting. The competition encourages you to cheer for your chosen knight, so your attention shifts between the arena floor and the surrounding sections of the audience.

The show also includes King Arthur himself, maidens who sing and dance, and a court jester. Those parts break up the fighting and give the production a wider cast of characters. The jester supplies comic relief, while the maidens add music and movement between the more forceful scenes.

I like this mixture because it gives children several ways to follow the show. Some will focus on the horses, some on the battles, and others on the colorful characters. Adults who prefer a serious drama should know that the tone is broad, theatrical, and family-friendly rather than subtle.

Why the Horses Change the Experience

The horses are the feature that most clearly separates Tournament of Kings from an ordinary stage performance. The knights do not simply pretend to ride. They perform on horseback in the dirt arena, using the animals as part of the races, jousting displays, and combat scenes.

You are seated in close proximity to the horses, so the action feels immediate. That closeness is exciting, but it also means the environment may feel dusty or intense. The presence of animals, dirt, and movement makes the room less formal than a theater with fixed scenery and a clean stage.

The horses also set the pace of the show. A race can build anticipation quickly, while a joust gives you a clear contest to follow. Sword fighting adds a different kind of action, with the performers relying on timing and choreography rather than speed alone.

If your ideal Las Vegas show is a singer, comedian, or acrobat on a raised stage, this may feel unusual. If you want an experience with real animals and a strong sense of physical action, the arena format is a good match.

Pyrotechnics, Smoke, and Other Effects

Tournament of Kings uses pyrotechnics, strobe lights, smoke, and fog in an enclosed area. These effects support the battles and help turn the arena into a dramatic court filled with danger and suspense.

The effects are also an important practical issue. People with epilepsy should not attend, and anyone sensitive to flashing lights, smoke, or fog should think carefully before booking. The show keeps the audience near the action, so you cannot expect the effects to feel distant or easy to ignore.

For most families, the special effects add energy and make the production feel larger than the physical arena. They also reinforce the story’s themes of bravery and conflict. Still, the production is not designed as a calm meal with light entertainment. The dinner takes place in the middle of a loud, active performance.

What Comes on the Medieval Dinner Plate

Your ticket includes dinner, which makes the evening more practical than buying a show ticket and then arranging a separate meal. The regular menu includes:

• Roasted chicken
• Lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes
• Corn on the cob
• Apple square
• Dinner roll

The menu is deliberately hearty and simple. Chicken, potatoes, and corn fit the old-fashioned feast idea, even though the food is prepared for a modern theater setting. The apple square provides a sweet finish, and the dinner roll rounds out the plate.

The most unusual part is how you eat. Cutlery is not provided, so you use your hands, as people might have done at a medieval feast. That detail adds humor and makes the meal part of the performance rather than a standard restaurant service.

It can also be messy. If you like to eat carefully or need utensils for practical reasons, this may be less comfortable than a normal dinner. Bring the right expectations and treat it as part of the show’s theme, not as a formal dining experience.

Meal Choices for Different Diets

The regular menu is listed as nut-free and peanut-free. Several alternatives are available, which is useful for families and mixed groups.

The gluten-free meal includes roasted chicken, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob, and fresh fruit. The dinner roll and apple square are replaced with fresh fruit.

The vegetarian meal includes pasta with marinara, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob, and fresh fruit. It is also listed as nut-free and peanut-free.

The vegan and dairy-free meal includes pasta with marinara without cheese, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes without butter, corn on the cob without butter, and fresh fruit. This option is also listed as nut-free and peanut-free.

Children ages four through twelve can receive a children’s meal with chicken tenders, fries, and an apple square. Children three and younger attend free, sit on an adult’s lap, and share the adult’s meal. Children four and older pay the full ticket price and receive their own seat and dinner.

Make any special meal request no later than four hours before the show. The kosher meal option is currently unavailable, so do not assume that option can be arranged.

How the Value Works

A useful way to judge this experience is to treat it as both a show and a meal. Your ticket covers admission to the production and dinner, so the value is stronger for anyone who wants a complete evening rather than entertainment alone.

I would compare the ticket price with what you would spend on a separate Las Vegas performance and a family dinner. The included meal is not fine dining, but it saves you from finding another restaurant before or after the show. It also keeps the evening focused, since you eat while the story continues around you.

The value is less clear if you mainly want a sophisticated meal or a quiet performance. The food is part of the theme, and the hand-eating rule is central to the experience. You are paying for the combination of arena action, horses, effects, characters, and dinner.

Families may find the package especially convenient. The children’s menu, simple story, live animals, and clear competitions give younger children plenty to watch. Adults should book it for the spectacle and shared experience, not for a refined culinary meal.

Who Should Choose This Show

I would recommend Tournament of Kings to families with children who enjoy knights, horses, and action stories. It also suits adults who want a distinctly Las Vegas production rather than another concert or magic show.

The show works for visitors looking for a self-contained evening at Excalibur. Since dinner is included, you can plan around one scheduled experience instead of coordinating a restaurant reservation and a separate attraction.

It may not be right for people with epilepsy because of the strobe lights. It also deserves caution from anyone uncomfortable with smoke, fog, pyrotechnics, enclosed spaces, dirt arenas, or close proximity to horses.

Large bags, backpacks, and luggage are not allowed. Plan to arrive without those items, especially if you are coming directly from another part of Las Vegas.

Unaccompanied minors are not permitted. Children may attend, but young children three and under must sit on an adult’s lap and share the adult meal.

The Best Way to Approach the Evening

Think of the event as a piece of theatrical entertainment with dinner built into it. You are not sitting down to a restaurant meal followed by a separate stage show. The food, cheering, arena, and story all belong to the same experience.

Choose a knight to support and let the show’s simple structure work for you. Horse races, jousting, and sword fights are easy to understand, even if you have no interest in Arthurian legend before arriving.

I also suggest telling your group in advance that eating by hand is part of the format. That way, the lack of cutlery feels like a planned novelty instead of an unexpected inconvenience.

Should You Book Tournament of Kings?

Book this show if you want horses, jousting, pyrotechnics, and dinner in one family-friendly package. The close arena seating gives the action a physical edge, and the Arthurian story provides enough structure to connect the races, battles, music, and comedy.

Skip it if you need a quiet meal, cannot tolerate flashing lights or smoke, or want a serious historical performance. For everyone else, the strongest reason to go is the combination of live horses and a shared feast. It is a playful, energetic Las Vegas evening, with a few practical quirks that are easy to accept if you know about them ahead of time.

FAQ

Where is Tournament of Kings held?

The show is held at Excalibur in Las Vegas, Nevada.

What does the ticket include?

The ticket includes admission to the Tournament of Kings show and dinner.

What type of food is served?

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

Is a vegetarian meal available?

Yes. The vegetarian meal includes pasta with marinara, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob, and fresh fruit.

Is a vegan meal available?

Yes. The vegan and dairy-free meal includes pasta with marinara without cheese, potatoes without butter, corn without butter, and fresh fruit.

Is a gluten-free meal available?

Yes. The gluten-free meal includes roasted chicken, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob, and fresh fruit.

Can children attend for free?

Children three years and younger may attend free, sit on an adult’s lap, and share the adult’s meal. Children four and older pay the full ticket price and receive their own seat and dinner.

Are utensils provided?

No. Cutlery is not provided, and you eat the meal with your hands as part of the medieval theme.

Are there special effects during the show?

Yes. The show includes horses, pyrotechnics, strobe lights, smoke, and fog in an enclosed area.

Are large bags or backpacks allowed?

No. Luggage, large bags, and backpacks are not allowed.