Las Vegas: Tournament of Kings Show at Excalibur

The best part of Tournament of Kings is the close-up action. You sit around a dirt arena while knights ride horses, race, joust, and clash with swords. It feels less like watching a distant stage show and more like sitting inside a noisy medieval contest.

I like the live horses and the simple, hearty dinner served as part of the performance. I also like that the story gives the arena action a clear purpose, with bravery, loyalty, and treachery woven into the King Arthur tale. The main drawback is the enclosed setting: smoke, fog, strobe lights, pyrotechnics, and nearby horses may be too much for people with epilepsy or anyone sensitive to loud, crowded theatrical effects.

Key points to know before you book

• Horses ride close to the seating: You are positioned near the dirt arena, so the action feels immediate rather than distant.
• The meal is part of the show: Roasted chicken, potatoes, corn, an apple square, and a dinner roll make up the regular menu.
• You eat with your hands: Cutlery is not provided, in keeping with the medieval theme.
• The program mixes action and comedy: Expect jousting, sword fighting, horse racing, maidens, a court jester, and King Arthur.
• The effects are intense: Pyrotechnics, strobe lights, smoke, and fog take place in an enclosed area.
• Children have clear age rules: Children age three and younger attend free, sit on an adult’s lap, and share that adult’s meal. Children age four and older need a full ticket.

Entering Excalibur’s medieval arena

Tournament of Kings takes place inside Excalibur, the castle-themed resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Once you take your seat, the usual casino setting gives way to a round arena with a dirt floor and seating arranged around the action.

The layout matters. You are not simply looking at a raised stage from far away. Horses and riders work in the arena near the seating, which gives the show its strongest quality: physical immediacy. You can follow the movement of the horses, see the knights prepare for their contests, and feel the energy of a competition designed for an audience to cheer.

I would arrive ready for a theatrical production, not a historically exact recreation of medieval life. The show uses the King Arthur story as a frame for stunts, music, comedy, special effects, and a meal. That combination is the point. You are buying an easy evening of entertainment with a strong visual theme, not a museum lesson.

Because the venue is enclosed, the atmosphere can become intense quickly. Smoke and fog can fill the arena, while strobe lights and pyrotechnics add sudden bursts of light and sound. Anyone with epilepsy should avoid the show, and people sensitive to these effects should think carefully before booking.

King Arthur, knights, and a clear good-versus-evil story

The story follows King Arthur and the knights who compete to prove their courage and chivalry. You will see tests of horse racing, jousting, and sword fighting, with treachery and bravery driving the plot forward.

That simple story structure works well for a dinner show. You do not need to know Arthurian legends before arriving. King Arthur provides the familiar center, while the knights give you someone to support during the contests. The arena encourages cheering, so the performance is more fun when you pick a side and join in.

The production also includes maidens who sing and dance, a court jester, and King Arthur himself. These sections break up the fighting and give the program a wider range of moods. The maidens add music and movement, while the jester supplies comedy between the more serious contests.

Do not expect every minute to feature a horse or a sword fight. The show needs pauses for the story, the meal, comedy, and musical numbers. That variety will suit families and first-time visitors who want a full evening rather than a nonstop stunt performance. If you only want fast action, the quieter sections may feel like a wait between the arena events.

Why the horses make the show memorable

The horses are the main reason this production feels different from a standard Las Vegas stage show. Riders perform in a dirt arena, and the contests depend on speed, balance, timing, and control. Jousting gives the performance its classic medieval image, while horse racing adds motion and competition.

The close seating makes the horses especially important. You are near the animals rather than viewing them as tiny figures at the back of a theater. That proximity can make a successful pass or charge feel exciting, but it also means the show may not suit anyone uneasy around horses or dirt arena conditions.

The action is choreographed for entertainment, with the story giving each contest a reason. You are not just watching riders practice skills. You are watching knights attempt to prove themselves while the wider Arthurian conflict unfolds around them.

This is also where expectations matter. The show presents a stylized version of medieval combat. It is best judged as live theater with equestrian action, not as a competitive sporting event or a lesson in historical armor and warfare.

Eating a medieval dinner during the performance

Dinner is included with the ticket, which makes the evening easier to plan. The regular meal includes roasted chicken, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob, an apple square, and a dinner roll.

The most amusing detail is also the one you need to prepare for: cutlery is not provided. You eat with your hands, as people supposedly would in a medieval setting. The meal is hearty and familiar rather than fancy, which is sensible when you are watching a show and sitting in an arena.

I like this choice because it connects dinner to the theme without requiring much explanation. It also keeps the meal practical. Roasted chicken, potatoes, and corn are easy to understand and filling enough for an evening program.

Still, eating by hand can be awkward. If you prefer a formal meal, need utensils for practical reasons, or dislike managing food while watching a performance, this part may test your patience. The meal is designed to be part of the entertainment, not a refined dining event.

Special meal requests must be made at least four hours before the show. The available choices include several useful alternatives:

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

The regular, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices are listed as nut free or peanut free where stated. The kosher meal option is currently unavailable, so do not book expecting that accommodation.

What the evening feels like for children

The show welcomes all ages, but the ticket rules are worth reading closely. Children three and younger may attend free, but they must sit on an adult’s lap and share that adult’s meal. Children four and older are charged the full ticket price and receive their own seat and dinner.

That rule makes the show practical for families with school-age children. Each older child gets a full place in the arena and a children’s meal, rather than needing to manage an adult portion. The horse action, clear teams, comedy, and simple Arthurian story should be easy for many children to follow.

The effects deserve equal attention. Horses, sword fights, pyrotechnics, strobe lights, smoke, and fog can be thrilling, but they can also be startling. I would explain the setup to a child before booking, especially if sudden noise, bright flashes, or dark enclosed spaces cause discomfort.

Unaccompanied minors are not allowed. Children must attend with an adult, and the youngest children need to remain on the accompanying adult’s lap.

Meal choices and practical food planning

You should make your dietary needs part of your booking plan, not an afterthought. The special options cover common needs, but they are not identical to the regular meal. For example, the gluten-free and fruit-based meals replace the dinner roll or apple square with fresh fruit, while the vegan option removes cheese and butter.

The menu also tells you what not to expect. There is no currently available kosher option, and no cutlery is supplied for any menu. If you need utensils, it is wise to ask about that before the performance, although the supplied information specifically confirms that the standard arrangement is hand eating.

The children’s meal is limited to ages four through twelve. That is useful for families, but it also means you should not assume the children’s menu applies to older teenagers or younger children who qualify for free admission.

Who gets the best value from the ticket

The value comes from combining a live show and dinner in one ticket. You do not need to arrange a separate meal before or after the performance, and the evening offers several distinct elements: horses, contests, a story, music, comedy, special effects, and food.

That package makes sense if you want a family-friendly Las Vegas activity that does not depend on gambling, nightlife, or a late concert. It also suits first-time visitors who want a strong theme and an easy-to-follow program. The setting does much of the work, so you can settle in and let the show carry you through the evening.

The value is less clear if your main interest is gourmet dining or serious theater. The food is straightforward, and the story is built to support the arena action. You are paying for the full combination, not for a restaurant meal or a subtle drama on its own.

Since no ticket price is provided here, I would compare the cost with other Las Vegas dinner shows and family productions on your dates. Ask yourself if you would willingly pay for both a live equestrian show and dinner. If yes, the package has a logical value. If you only want one of those elements, another ticket may suit you better.

Bags, seating, and what to leave behind

Large bags, luggage, and backpacks are not allowed. Plan to arrive with only the essentials, because a suitcase or full-size day bag will not fit the rules for the venue.

Your seating places you close to the horses and the dirt arena. That is a major benefit for seeing the action, but it is also a practical consideration if you dislike dust, animal proximity, or the feeling of a highly enclosed performance space.

No transportation service is included in the information provided. You should plan your own route to Excalibur and allow enough time to enter the resort, find the arena, and settle before the show begins.

Is Tournament of Kings right for you?

Book this show if you want a lively, easy-to-follow Las Vegas evening with horses and jousting, a clear King Arthur story, and dinner included. It is especially suitable for families, fans of medieval themes, and anyone who prefers a scheduled performance over wandering between casino attractions.

Think twice if you have epilepsy, dislike strobe lighting and pyrotechnics, or feel uncomfortable sitting close to horses in a dirt arena. Also consider another option if you want quiet dining, supplied cutlery, a refined menu, or historically serious theater.

For the right audience, Tournament of Kings delivers a memorable mix of spectacle and supper. The hand-eaten meal is part of the joke, the horses give the show real physical energy, and the simple story makes it easy for you to cheer from the first contest to the last.

FAQ

Where does Tournament of Kings take place?

The show takes place at Excalibur in Las Vegas, Nevada, inside an arena with a dirt performance floor.

Is dinner included with the show ticket?

Yes. The ticket includes the show and dinner.

What food is served on the regular menu?

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

Are utensils provided?

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

Can I request a special meal?

Yes. Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and children’s meals are available as specified. Special meal requests must be made at least four hours before the show. The kosher option is currently unavailable.

Can young 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 years and older need a full-price ticket, their own seat, and their own dinner.