MUNCASTER castle once again plays host to the Muncaster festival this May half-term. 

With a carnival atmosphere on the Castle front lawn, the event that runs from Sunday 29 to Tuesday 31 offers something for all the family to enjoy.

The festival culminates with the International Jesters Tournament held on the final day, where the hopefuls battle it out to win the prestigious title of Fool of Muncaster 2016. 

Tom Fool, a jester who lived at Muncaster 400 years ago is said to be one of its many ghosts, as well as the inspiration for the fool in Shakespeare's King Lear. Muncaster is believed to be the only castle in the world that still appoints it own fool and, as is traditional, the winning fool is awarded a year's supply of beer.

The 2015 winner of the International Jester Tournament was professional showman Mat Ricardo, arguably the best-established act of his kind in the country, who wowed the judges with juggling feats, diabolo skills and table-cloth tricks. As well as being named Fool of Muncaster, he was also paid handsomely in ale.

Muncaster Castle records show the castle, which is believed to have been built on Roman remains here in a part of the Western Lake District rife with Roman history, has definitely been the home of the Pennington family since 1208 and there are even suggestions the family could have lived there since as early as 1026.

So what's happening at this festival? 

There will be Astral Stu and his Big Top, which will include daily shows and a circus workshop. There will be aerial shows and a ukulele school with Gacko. There will also be a climbing wall, archery, bouncy inflatables, face painting, kids craft and many more hands on activities. 

There will also be a chance to meet the ancestors on the Monday and Tuesday, as well as a pyjama drama children workshop, a food court and stalls with food and drinks and gifts for everybody to enjoy. 

There are plenty of other activities to do at Muncaster Castle. With daily Hawk walks, where you can walk through the Castle's woodlands in the company of a beautiful bird of prey, flying from tree to glove, under instruction from the Muncaster Hawk and Owl Centre's falconers. 

Or instead, take a stroll around the historic haunted castle - still a lived-in family home after nine centuries, set in 77 acres of woodland and gardens against the backdrop of the Western Lake District fells.