June

June, with its long days and hopefully fine weather, is a popular choice for sporting fixtures, fairs and a range of outdoor pursuits.The riding season gets underway in the Scottish Borders and events mark the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.


Some events take place on exactly the same date every year, regardless of which day of the week they fall upon. The following table shows events which are fixed in this way:

DayEventArticle
21Stonehenge Solstice CelebrationsArticle
23Cornish Midsummer FiresArticle
24Leicester Damask Rose CeremonyArticle
27Bodmin & St Keverne Cornish Rebellion CommemorationsArticle
29Warcop RushbearingArticle

Some event dates differ from year to year in order for them to fall on a weekend or during a particular week of the year, for example the 3rd week in January. The following table shows events where dates may vary in this manner:

DateEventArticle
Weekends often in June & JulyPride Marches and FestivalsArticle
Late April to late JuneWorcestershire British Asparagus FestivalArticle
All MonthWell DressingArticle
Most of Month every 4 yearsYork Mystery PlaysArticle
A Saturday in May or JuneGeldeston Locks Dwile FlonkingArticle
A Sunday in late May or early JuneBrightlingsea Blessing & Reclaiming of the WatersArticle
A Sunday in late May or early JuneOxford Tortoise FairArticle
Saturday near 29 May (may be in early June)Fownhope Heart of Oak Society Annual Club WalkArticle
Sunday near 30th May (sometimes in June)Bawbugh St Walstan's DayArticle
A Weekend in JuneHastings World Crazy Golf ChampionshipsArticle
A Weekend in JuneKilwinning & Drummond Castle PapingoArticle
A weekend in JuneRochester Dickens FestivalArticle
A Sunday in JuneLong Melford Clopton Rose CeremonyArticle
Early in MonthChelsea Hospital Founders DayArticle
A Weekday in JuneLondon Knollys Rose CeremonyArticle
A Saturday in May or JuneKent World Custard Pie ChampionshipsArticle
Saturday early in monthEaglesham Fair & Kilmarnock Bunnet RaceArticle
Saturday early in MonthWybunbury Fig Pie WakesArticle
A Sunday in early May or early JuneKeevil Taylor Charity & Bun ServiceArticle
A Sunday in late May or early JuneSandford Lock World Pooh Sticks ChampionshipsArticle
Weekday early in monthBarking Nepton DistributionArticle
A Saturday in May,June or JulyAshbourne World Toe Wrestling ChampionshipsArticle
Weekend early in monthBarnet Medieval FestivalArticle
A Sunday early to mid MonthSelston Tower ServiceArticle
A Sunday in June, July or AugustDevon National Sandcastle CompetitionArticle
Friday after Spring Bank HolidayChipping Campden Cotswold Olympicks & Shin Kicking CompetitionArticle
Weekend after Spring Bank HolidayThaxted MorrisArticle
1st SaturdayKilbarchan Lilias DayArticle
1st SaturdayOssett BeercartArticle
1st TuesdayLondon Richard Johnson Service & Bubble SermonArticle
1st ThursdayNeston Ladies DayArticle
1st WeekAppleby Horse FairArticle
1st WeekWest Linton Whipman PlayArticle
Friday after 1st Monday in MonthHawick Common RidingArticle
Thursday between 6th & 12thLanark Lanimer DayArticle
2nd SaturdayNewtongrange Childrens Gala DayArticle
2nd WeekLondon Trooping the ColourArticle
Weekday near 11thBordon Blessing of the Midsummer BowerArticle
13 (last possible date)Whit SundayArticle
Weekend near 14thNaseby Battle Anniversary weekendArticle
Weekend near 15thEast Stoke: Battle of Stoke Field Anniversary Article
Tuesday after 2nd Monday in MonthLinlithgow Marches DayArticle
Friday after 2nd Monday in MonthSelkirk Common Riding FestivalArticle
Wednesday mid MonthYetholm Riding of the MarchesArticle
A Saturday mid MonthBiggar Gala DayArticle
A Saturday mid MonthLockerbie GalaArticle
A Saturday mid MonthThe Gate to SouthwellArticle
A Saturday mid MonthGreat Knaresborough Bed RaceArticle
A Saturday mid to late in MonthDorset World Stinging Nettle Eating ChampionshipArticle
Weekend mid monthMiddlewich Folk & BoatArticle
A Sunday mid MonthBishops Castle Midsummer RejoicingArticle
3rd SaturdayAppleton Thorn Bawming the ThornArticle
3rd SaturdayDumfries Guid Nychburris DayArticle
3rd SaturdayGorebridge Childrens Gala DayArticle
3rd SaturdayInverness Marymas FairArticle
3rd SaturdayOvingham Goose FairArticle
3rd SundayFathers DayArticle
3rd WeekPeebles Beltane FestivalArticle
3rd WeekMelrose FestivalArticle
Saturday nearest 19thAbingdon Election of Mayor of Ock StreetArticle
Friday nearest 21stAshmore Filly LooArticle
Sunday nearest 22ndHolywell St Winefride's DayArticle
Wednesday late in MonthLeigh Parish Lands Candle AuctionArticle
Weekend late in MonthChester Midsummer Watch ParadeArticle
Saturday late in MonthPenzance Mazey Day & Golowan FestivalArticle
Saturday late in MonthSt Albans PilgrimageArticle
Saturday late in MonthWillaston World Worm Charming ChampionshipsArticle
Sunday late in MonthTyburn Martyrs WalkArticle
4th ThursdayBury St Edmunds Jankyn Smyth Charity Cakes & AleArticle
4th SaturdayLoanhead Children's DayArticle
Week of 24th Youlgrave WelldressingArticle
Saturday near 24thOttery St Mary Pixie DayArticle
Weekend nearest 24thBattle of Bannockburn CommemorationArticle
Sunday near 24thOxford Wall Pulpit SermonArticle
Last WeekNewcastle HoppingsArticle
Last MondayHepworth Feast & Plague CommemorationArticle
Last SaturdayAbram Morris DanceArticle
Last SaturdayCeres Highland Games & Bannockburn ParadeArticle
Last SundaySwaton World Egg Throwing Championships & Russian Egg RouletteArticle
Last WeekendBarrowden Rush StrewingArticle
Sunday near 29th (may be in July)Edgmond Clipping ServiceArticle
Saturday nearest 30th (may be in July)Galashiels Braw Lads GatheringArticle
Saturday in late June , July or AugustHernhill Three Horseshoes Wheelie Bin RaceArticle
Friday near July 1stWarrington Walking DayArticle
Last SaturdayParwich Wakes & Oddfellows ProcessionArticle

Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday; it is the fortieth day after Easter Sunday so can fall anywhere between 30th April and 3rd June. Rogation Monday and Tuesday, and Ascension Eve are the days leading up to Ascension Day. This period is traditionally associated with boundary checking, walks and processions.

DateEventArticle
Rogation SundayLeighton Buzzard Wilkes WalkArticle
Rogation SundayMudeford Blessing the WatersArticle
Rogation MondayNorth Shields Blessing the SeaArticle
Rogation MondayWishford Key AuctionArticle
Ascension EveHastings Blessing the SeaArticle
Ascension EveWhitby Penny HedgeArticle
Ascension DayAscension Day Rooftop SingingArticle
Ascension Day or near dateBeating the BoundsArticle
Ascension DayBisley Well DressingArticle
Ascension DayCambridge Ascension Day CarolArticle
Ascension DayLichfield Beating the BoundsArticle
Ascension DayLondon Beating the BoundsArticle
Ascension DayOxford Beating the BoundsArticle
Ascension DayTissington Well DressingArticle

Whitsuntide is a festival commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples. It is the seventh Sunday after Easter so varies in date, always falling between mid May and mid June. Because it is easier to plan events for a fixed date each year, many former Whitsuntide events have been moved to Spring Bank Holiday instead. Trinity Sunday is the Sunday after Whitsun and celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) ;  Corpus Christi is the Thursday after Trinity and honours the body of Christ. In the UK this was a major festival before the Reformation but is now comparatively little known outside the Roman Catholic Church.

DateEventArticle
Whit SundayBristol Rush SundayArticle
Whit SundaySt Briavels Bread & Cheese ScrambleArticle
Whit SundayShenington Grass StrewingArticle
Whit TuesdaySt Ives (Cambs) Dicing for BiblesArticle
Whit FridaySaddleworth Whit FridayArticle
Trinity MondayRothwell Rowell Trinity FairArticle
Corpus ChristiArundel Corpus Chisti Carpet of FlowersArticle