May Day Festival 5 – 7 May

Celebrate May Day at Hever Castle & Gardens over the early May Bank Holiday. The May Day Festival runs from 5 to 7 May with a host of customs and activities for all the family to enjoy. 

Join the Lord and Lady of the May on the Castle Forecourt and see the crowning of the May Queen. Visitors are invited to dance around the Maypole with brightly coloured ribbons intertwined. This age old custom is followed by demonstrations of May Day Dancing accompanied by 16^th century music and a playlet about the traditional story of the battle of the seasons.

Meet the mythical Jack-in-the-Green and follow the Green Man from folklore in a traditional May Day procession through the gardens as he wakes up the plants for summer with the help of children and their magical May bells (2.30pm). There’s a Green Man Hunt around the grounds and a Green Man trail through the Castle, plus children can have their face painted* (*additional charge).

At this time of year, the award-winning gardens and grounds are a feast for the eyes, with the delicate blossom of pear, apple and cherry trees to lift the spirits. Stroll through the Pergola Walk where the walls are bedecked with an array of Wisteria and admire the colourful bedding plants in the Italian Gardens.

ACTIVITIES

Castle Forecourt: Traditional May Day dancing with the Lord and Lady May and Morris dancers and a Playlet about the traditional story of the battle of the seasons.
10:30 – 17:00 King’s musicians, playing 16th century music.
11:30 Arrival of Lord and Lady May, followed by a celebration of May Day music and dancing
12:30 Playlet: Battle of the Seasons, followed by a celebration of May Day music and dancing.
14:30 Jack in the Green Procession, followed by a celebration of May Day music and dancing.

Castle Forecourt: Jack in the Green Procession
Join Jack as he visits the gardens to wake up the flowers and plants for spring. Children are given magical May bells to help. Starts on Castle forecourt.
14:30

May Day Festival Activity includes Green Man Hunt around the grounds (new for 2018).
10:30 – 17:30

Castle: Green Man Trail through castle. (Castle entry ticket required.)
12:00 – 17:00

By Info Hut: Face Painting £4.00
Come and get your face painted with our fabulous face painters who have been painting faces for 17 years.
11:00 – 16:00

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Always check details before travelling. Hever Castle reserves the right to close all or part of the Castle, grounds, catering outlets and activities, and to change or cancel and events. Please note that use of partner offers may be restricted or not valid on event days.