Public servants put on their armour at Canberra's Medieval Festival

It took one lunge and a thrust of a rapier to bring one man to his knees and the crowd, which was watching with baited breath, burst in to cheers.

For Bart Beswick, otherwise known as Sir Ysanbart Coutin, it is this cry from the audience and the following rush of adrenaline that saw him demonstrate combat fighting at the Medieval Festival.

Mr Beswick is a member of social re-enactment group the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), which helped coordinate the festival at the request of the Australian Museum of Democracy.

Describing himself as a "medieval adrenaline junkie", Mr Beswick said he loved being able to offer people entertainment as well as to educate them about medieval practices.

"I love people's reaction because there's nothing like throwing the shot, landing it and then hearing the visceral gasps from the crowd," Mr Beswick said.

"We get to put on a really great show and people can really start to understand how fighting used to be done."

Celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta's creation, the festival saw more than 10,000 people attend the event, according to organisers, transforming King's Hall into a grand ballroom dominated by twirling dancers and enthusiastic visitors donned in brightly coloured costumes.

More than 60 of the SCA's members hosted a range of activities and demonstrations including calligraphy, juggling, pottery and combat.

For the museum's senior historian Libby Stewart it was important to incorporate these medieval traditions into the exhibition to give context to the historical document while also providing entertainment.

"We wanted to help people understand what the Magna Carta was about and what was happening around that period," she said.

"The anniversary really was the perfect opportunity to do something really different for this building, which is normally focused on politics, where people could have fun and maybe even learn something."

Though a one-off experience for visitors, for many SCA participants this connection to the medieval lifestyle offers respite from the monotony of daily life.

Brigid Costello, who became involved with the SCA more than 23 years ago, balances the hobby with her full-time position as a public servant.

Donned in floor-sweeping costume, Ms Costello believes medieval practices can help people connect with everyday life in an increasingly face-paced world.

"I like that I have an everyday job and can still use the internet, but to immerse yourself in these traditions is truly fascinating," she said.

"As our lives get busier I think we can learn to reconnect with the everyday through learning medieval crafts."

For members like Ms Costello it is important to share these traditions with the general public and help educate them about the significantly historical period.

"We're really proud of being part of the Canberra community, so we try and get as involved as we can," she said.