Website celebrating May Day festivities in Oxford
In 2026 the First of May falls on a Friday
Above: Broad Street, May Morning 2025. Below: Jack-in-the-Green proceeds up the High in 2024
(Photos Tim Healey)
May morning in Oxford is famous for the thousands who gather at 6am to hear a Latin hymn sung from the top of Magdalen College tower. It is an extraordinary ceremony, but only one feature of Oxford tradition.
Maytime revels take place all over the city, and were already controversial in Britain in 1250 when the Chancellor of Oxford University forbade ‘alike in churches, all dancing in masks or with disorderly noises, and all processions of men wearing wreaths and garlands made of leaves of trees or flowers or what not.’
This website honours both the historic celebrations and the joyous spontaneity of revels today. You will find photos, videos and any amount of abstruse information about maypoles and morris and much more besides.
Up the May!
LINKS
Oxford City Council has notes on bus transport, road closures and parking. See https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20035/events/559/may_morning_in_oxford
Daily Information highlights concerts, gigs, and much more. See www.dailyinfo.co.uk/mayday
WELCOME THE MAY! Popular 5-piece costume band The Oxford Waits will be celebrating the coming summer with a concert of May carols, seasonal songs and dance tunes from the 17th Century. Join us there...
WEDNESDAY 29 APRIL 2026
Welcome the May!
Iffley Church Hall, 7pm
Tickets £15
Just click the link below
https://wegottickets.com/event/690426
This site is maintained by writer and broadcaster Tim Healey. Visit www.timhealey.co.uk
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