| Where: | Whitstable, Kent at the Castle |
| When: | May Day Bank Holiday Monday |
| Time: | 8 am-5 pm |
Whitstable Jack the Green is a revival of the old May custom, organised by the local Lions and formerly Oyster Morris. It’s a highlight of the local calendar and is now carrying on into the future following the retirement of the dance side. It’s one of the longest established revivals of this type, dating back the the mid 1970s when Lion Dixie Lee founded the event. Jack is a greenery-covered man like a giant May Garland symbolising the Spirit of Spring and is accompanied by plenty of morris dancers and musicians, stopping at hostelries around town. There was a procession around the harbour culminating in dancing at the Castle and the singing of the May Song; now the focus is on the Castle all day. There will be music, magic, mummers, coconut shies, craft stalls and refreshments with lots of free entertainment for children. It has become a tradition for local primary school children (400 in 2019!) to enter a competition to design a May Day poster and these are all laminated and displayed around the grounds of Whitstable Castle. The winning poster is printed on the front cover of over 1,000 programmes listing the times of the entertainment and events, available to visitors for a small donation, contributing to the Lions’ fundraising for people in need.
Helpful Hints
In 2025 Whitstable and Herne Bay Lions should celebrate May Day on Monday May 5th (see link below for schedule).
Other events associated with May Day take place over the weekend but the main day is usually the Monday.
Parking is available behind the library for a small charge – head for the open space at the back as it gets a bit tight near the entrance.
Please note that the photos are from the Oyster Morris parade through town and after 2020 the event has a new look!
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WhitstableHerneBayLionsClub
Click here for the Lions website: https://www.whitstablelionsclub.org.uk
Whitstable and Herne Bay Lions will be celebrating May Day this year on Sunday May 3rd, with their traditional May Fair in the grounds of Whitstable Castle. 44 years ago, Dixie Lee, a life-long member of the Lions, revived the tradition with the support of Oyster Morris, who participated every year until now.
Dixie’s daughter will be working with several other Morris sides to continue the custom, and the dancing will begin at the Library, (no parade through town this year), but will move on for further dancing at The Horsebridge and the Duke of Cumberland where Jack in the Green will join them. They will then parade through the Harbour, culminating with dancing at the Castle and the singing of the May Day song.
There will be music, magic, mummers, coconut shies, craft stalls and refreshments with lots of free entertainment for children. It has become a tradition for local primary school children (400 last year!) to enter a competition to design a May Day poster and these are all laminated and displayed around the grounds of Whitstable Castle. The winning poster is printed on the front cover of over 1,000 programmes listing the times of the entertainment and events, available to visitors for a small donation, contributing to the Lions’ fundraising for people in need.
Dear Alwyn,
Thanks for getting in touch and for all the helpful information! I was wondering where I could find out what’s happening this year now that Oyster Morris have disbanded, and you’ve solved the problem so I’m very grateful!
Best wishes,
Averil