| Where: | Butser Ancient Farm , 4 miles south of Petersfield, Hampshire |
| When: | Saturday nearest May Eve (May Eve is the night of 30th April into morning of 1st May) |
| Time: | 4 pm onwards until 10 pm - burning at sundown |
The ancient festival of Beltane is revived and celebrated annually at the reconstructed Iron-Age village of Butser in Hampshire (they spell it Beltain here). A huge wicker man is constructed and he is burned at sunset following the Celtic tradition – luckily the organisers are peace-loving folk so no people are sacrificed inside! Beltane is associated with Bel, god of light, fire and the sun and is a fertility rite linked to the turning of the year to ensure a fruitful harvest. There is a range of activities throughout the afternoon and evening including performances by musicians, dancers and singers, craft workshops and living history- plenty to keep everyone busy while waiting for the burning.
Helpful Hints
In 2024 it was on Saturday 4th May (follow links below for full details)- 2025 date is yet to be confirmed but likely to be Saturday 2nd.
You’ll need to buy tickets in advance for this event as it often sells out -£26 each for adults in advance in 2023, going up to £34 after early bird discount ends – though entry at the gate is available if numbers allow. Food & drink are available onsite. It’s an uphill walk back to the carpark – you’ll need appropriate footwear and a torch is useful.
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/butserancientfarmhampshire
Click here for the event website : http://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/
After reading about the Beltain festival, I went last weekend with my daughter. We had a wonderful time. The last time we saw this was about 12 years ago, when there was a tiny crowd, but now there were all sorts of activities and events, from storytelling to plaiting garlands. The hog roast was very welcome too. The round houses are wonderfully comfortable at night, and the Roman villa was amazing.
Hi Paula!
We’ve just returned from holiday and guess what? We were at Butser too! John made a video – when he’s had a chance to edit it, look and see if you appear on it (this may take awhile as he’s got an editing backlog!)It was a really nice event and we thoroughly enjoyed it,
Kind Regards,
Averil
hello i am mailing to check if it is certain that the date for the wicker man burning is definately on 4th may this year .please can someone e mail to confirm thankyou
Hello
Please can someone confirm that the burning of the wicker man this year 2013 is on saturday 4th may at Butser,thankyou
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes, it’s on May 4th this year – follow this link for details :
http://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/events/event-list/ (you can buy tickets in advance from their website, too). We went last year and really enjoyed it – hope you do, too!
Best Wishes,
Averil
Hiya just a quick question, it says 4:30pm until late. What’s the average time it finishes?
Phil
Hi Phil,
Last year the Wicker Man was lit 9pm-ish and the bar shut at 10 (just checked my paperwork!)so not too late really – just in case they vary the schedule, it might be best to double check with a contact on the Butser website (there’s a link on the event page under Helpful Hints). Enjoy!
Averil
can anyone tell me if the the ticket price is just to get in and you have to pay for the other activities or do you get things with the ticket? hope that make some sense.
caz
Hi Caz,
All the entertainment was included in the ticket price last year (music, dancing , wicker man burning etc)but if you wanted to make floral garlands and other craft items the materials had to be paid for and of course the food and drinks were for sale.
Hope that helps!
Averil
thanks Averil. just wanted to know bit more detail before we book tickets. thanks for that.
🙂
Being an American this Wickerman Burning event was a new experience for me. BUT it was so well worth visiting the farm and seeing the exhibits and doing all that was to be done. The costumed players were a highlight and then to top that off the actual burning of the Wicker Man was . . . amazing. I don’t know why that is true but it sent shivers through my ancient bones. Felt so right actually. 🙂 Especially with the wishes and hopes and prayers written out and tied to the Man. Must say though that the music was way to loud and that part of the afternoon and evening was a bust for me. It just interfered with even normal conversation. Sorry if that is a big negative. But was my only negative experience at the farm. Otherwise the pictures I sent home to my family and friends have set off loads of interest and probably some visitors to the farm and next years events. Congratulations on a wonderful event.
Hi I’m sherry gewitzke
I’m pagan bard ( druid)
I m also a columnist
Called all focus
About folklore , mythology
Paganism
For regional observer papers
Chichester , Midhurst
Just making sued it’s ok with you to mention
Your Beltane
Festival
I’m aiming to raise awareness
Of our beliefs alive & kicking
I do hope to see u there
I may do a write up on the experience
Be blessed
Sherry
http://www.awenspiritualhealing.co.uk
FB page
Every day magic
Hi, i tried to visit your page but it doesn’t work.
Hi, i want to know what the wicker man represents, is it an ancient pagan element??? is there a kind of mythology behind it?
Hi Lola,
As far as I know, there is little ancient written evidence about wicker men – just some passing references about the pagan Celtic peoples of territory the Romans took over, and their Druid practice of making human sacrifices to their gods (presumably like other sacrifice traditions to ensure prosperity in times ahead or in thanksgiving). Caesar mentions that huge structures were built in the shape of a man, then people were loaded inside and the whole thing set alight- and that’s where it all comes from. The Druids didn’t leave written records so what we have comes from the Roman side. If you haven’t sen the film The Wicker Man, give it a go- it’s well worth seeing 🙂
Best wishes,
Averil