May Day on North Parade
Very quiet at the Rose & Crown in 2025 (photo Tim Healey)
Around noon on May Day, morris sides from Oxford city centre arrive at North Parade to dance outside the Rose & Crown.
Oxford City Morris act as hosts, and regulars have included Oxford University Morris Men, Abingdon Traditional, Charlbury, Crendon, Wolvercote and the Summertown Morris.
The Rose & Crown has traditionally hosted impromptu music sessions in its rear courtyard. However, new restrictions on numbers meant that in 2025 few musicians turned up; the big session was hosted by The Jolly Farmers pub on Paradise Street in town. It remains to be seen whether the same pattern will recur in 2026.
Dancing on North Parade, May Day 2022 (photo Tim Healey)
Session at the Rose & Crown, May Day 2019
Wolvercote Morris on North Parade, May Day 2016 (photo Tim Healey)
Session at the Rose & Crown, May Day 2022 (video Tim Healey)
Dancing on North Parade, May Day 2018 (video David Lawton)
Clips from the session at the Rose & Crown, May Day 2018 (video Tim Healey)
Session at the Rose & Crown, May Day 2017 (video Tim Healey)
Morris Dancing, North Parade May Day 2016 (video Tim Healey)
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