This frees the knights to have evenings of pageantry when they are not wearing armor and to be free to fight when they are wearing armor. For those who are looking to reenact a tournament, it might be considered that this allows for a great display of pageantry without unduly taking time away from the fighting. Gossip , of course. Theatre was associated with many festivals where tournaments took place. They were usually in the afternoons, since there is no artificial lighting.
Ladies attend, but in England they are usually veiled or in masks.
Many Tournament sponsors would have the players into their house to perform during the feast. At the Tournament of the Cloth of Gold , footraces were held for children and ladies during the slow times. They then invited all in attendance to come upon the field and race for the prizes.