It's a castle fit for a prize winner, and that was just the ticket for the Contentos of Maywood, who were the prize winners in the (201) Family Win a Party at Medieval Times contest.

Mom Jeannine escorted her three children, Michael, 13, Vincent, 10, and Adriana, 9, along with two nephews and two friends. This was the Contentos' first-ever visit to the castle.

For novices, they had no trouble with dinner eaten the old-old-fashioned way (forget fanciful finery such as flatware). They looked elegant in their jaunty crowns and thoroughly enjoyed the tournament entertainment. There was royalty to meet, pageantry to attend and, of course, a knight to cheer.

"The kids enjoyed the jousting events the best," says Jeannine, "and cheering the Blue Knight, even though he lost."