Here’s what to expect at Glastonbury’s May Day, Beltane & Glastonbury Dragons May Fayre Community Celebrations on May 1st and May 5th.
Wednesday May 1st (May Day)
Getting Here and Parking:
St Dunstan’s Carpark (next to the Information Centre) is open as usual, along with the other Town car parks, but these get full very early in the day. Herbie’s Field is open for car parking from 9am-5.30pm – £5 donation for all-day parking. It’s a 1/2 mile walk from there to the Market Place where the festivities begin.
Please note: Road Closures Chilkwell St, High St, Magdalene St, Benedict St 10am to 2pm.
Click for Road Closure Map
The Town Hall will have a lost child/First aid post in the main hall from 9.45am-3.30pm. A first aid responder will be parked on the Chalice Well Carpark from 12noon-3.30pm.
Camping? Check out my guide to local sites:
This map shows the main event sites and parking. Plus the May Pole’s Processional Route from the Market Place to Bushy Combe on May 1st and a handy shortcut (marked in green).
Community Gathering on the Tor for Sunrise
Open to all, generally features Druids, Morris Dancers, Drummers. Some hardy folk will stay up the Tor from the night before, others make their way up the Tor in time to greet the sun.
Parking in the lanes or camping in the fields around the Tor is not possible.
Sunrise is about 5.30 am
Chalice Well Beltane Fire Ceremony
6.30am Gates open, all are welcome and entry is free until 12pm.
7.00am Beltane Fire Ceremony in the Cress Field “The vibrant energies of Beltane invite us to celebrate blessings, unity consciousness and our sacred connection with these lands of Avalon. As part of the 7am ceremony you can jump the Beltane fire”.
9.00am: Facebook Livestream Meditation
2.00pm: Wellhead Meditation.
Refreshments are available by the Conversation Cafe on the Lower Lawn.
More info at: Chalice Well and the Chalice Well Facebook Page
The Glastonbury Greenmen Maypole Procession
With Glastonbury Greenmen and women, the Horde, Glastonbury Border Morris, Drummers and more!
Call out to all Bards… this year, in addition to the Market Cross usual spot, there will again be a mic set up on the balcony outside St Dunstan’s House for bardic performers and spoken word.
Also news flash – This year, we have the ‘Red Wilde Women’ to compliment and balance our wonderful Greenman energy… the new May Queen invites the women to wear red with a splash of green (if you are not wearing your May Day greens or Bardic blues)
Itinerary and timings ‘ish’ taking account of our very own GMT (Glastonbury Maybe Time aka Green Men Time)
Market Cross
10am – Town Crier announcement and welcome to May Day with Glastonbury Town Drummer.
11am ish Dragon Drummers.
11.30am ish – Glastonbury Border Morris.
12 ish- Avalonian Free State Choir.
Entrance by ‘The Horde’.
Balcony outside St Dunstan’s House
10.10am ish – welcome from the Mayor of Glastonbury.
10.15am ish – Celtic Blessing.
10.20 ish – The Bards of Ynys Witrin (Glastonbury).
11.30 ish Avalonian Drummers
12noon ish – The Sword Bearer ‘Call for Peace’.
– The ‘Flames’ with new May Queen and Red Wilde Women greeting and honouring them.
Procession of the May Pole down to Market Cross
After 12.30 ish Green Men led by current May Queen and King will bring the May Pole Magdalene Street in front of St Dunstan’s House balcony for:
– Renewal, Blessing and Hail of the May Queen and King.
– Blessing of the May Pole with the Greenmen, the ‘Red Wilde Women of Beltane’ and the ‘Flames’ (Unity, Bridget, Rhiannon and Goddess).
May Pole procession up to Bushy Combe
Led by the new May Queen and King leaves no later than 1pm. Celebrants will attend a White Spring Blessing, others may choose to process up Dodd Lane to Bushy Combe and join the call for the Pole (earth my body, water my blood, air my breath and fire my spirit)
Please note: If you would prefer a shorter, quicker and more direct route to Bushy Combe (which is where most of the action happens) marshals will direct you via Dod Lane on the day. This is a much shorter route, avoiding walking on the main road (A361). The Maypole procession will go via Wellhouse Lane which gets very crowded. Taking the Dod Lane shortcut will also enable you to get there early and bag a good spot for the main celebrations.
Bring a picnic, but please take all your rubbish home with you, as permission to use Bushy Combe is by kind permission of the Trust who own the land.
Bushy Combe
The Avalonian Drummers, the Greenmen and the Druids will hold the circle. Order of ceremony:
– the Avalonian Drummers.
– Calling of the quarters.
– Sword Bearer ‘Call for Peace’.
– Marriage of the May Queen and King (all to sit for this).
– Calling down the Awen.
– The May Queen and Red Wilde Women prepare the hole for the Pole.
The May Pole is raised
– The Red Wilde Women will hold the Ribbons while the Greenmen bang in the Pole.
– The Celebrants will hold the circle around the Pole for a moment to call the Druidic Oath ‘We swear by peace and love to stand, heart to heart and hand in hand, mark O Spirit and hear us now, confirming this our sacred vow.’
The community is invited to ‘Dance the May’ with music and merry-making
When all is done (weather depending)
– The Celebrants will process around to close the circle.
– The old May Pole will be brought up from the White Spring around 6ish.
– Last year’s May Pole will be ceremonially burnt off and offerings can be given.
Beltane Blessing of Union Ceremony
17.00pm start. By the Temple of Avalon and Priestesses of Rhiannon, entry by donation, at the Assembly Rooms,
A ceremonial space for the elemental blessings on your vow renewal or for making a love commitment to yourself or with a partner.
Sunday 5th May
Glastonbury Dragons May Fayre and Procession
With special guests the Pentacle Drummers. Featuring Glastonbury Border Morris, Glastonbury Dragon Drummers, Wild Moon Morris, The Drummers of Avalon, Ceremonialists & Performers
10.00am The Glastonbury Dragons May Fayre opens, located by Glastonbury Information Centre
1.30pm / 1.45pm Start of the Glastonbury Dragons Parade (near to the Town Hall) including The Glastonbury Dragons ‘Battle of the Season’
2.00pm The Glastonbury Dragons parade up the High Street to the Fairfield on the slopes of Glastonbury Tor
2.45pm approx The Glastonbury Dragons ceremony on the Fairfield Blossom Circle
Meanwhile there will be performances by Glastonbury Information Centre, with a Grand Finale at 4.00pm.
5.00pm May Fayre closes
Please note Road Closures: Chilkwell St, Lambrook St, High St, Magdalene Street, Benedict St 1.00pm to 3.00pm.
Click for Road Closure Map
For more idea of what to expect, please see my write-up, video and photos from last year:
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It’ll be a belter!
I reckon! Just praying for sunshine for the whole week…
Your optimism is admirable.
well put.