Note: Sunrise and event starting times can vary significantly depending on location or weather.  You may need to reach a specific team's contact (squire) directly to find out more about the local schedule.

Anchorage, AK with Rant and Raven Morris
Up here, no one wants to dance up the sun.  At 6:00 am it's way too cold, so we sleep in and THEN dance!  The sun does not officially rise until after the team squire comes out of hibernation, and given her name, we'll STILL dancing up the Dawn.

• 9:00 am to 9:30 am - Resolution Park, Captain Cook Statue, 3rd Ave.  The Park is near where 3rd Ave rounds the corner and becomes L Street, with several tiers of decking.  Park on one of the side streets.
• 10:00 am-ish - Pancake break at Karin's Cabin for current and past team members.  If conditions are just right, the breakfast coma may be followed by spontaneous more Morris dancing.
• For more information email squire

• 5:30 am - 7:00 am Vancouver Morris Men and Tiddley Cove Morris dance up the dawn at Sparrow Fart in Trimble Park (Trimble St and W 8th Ave) in West Point Grey
• 7:00 am - Off to breakfast, then to work for them that must.
• For more information email or

Victoria with Hollytree Morris, Island Thyme Morris, and Quicksbottom Morris

                      
 Island Thme Morris                                                                                                    Quicksbottom Morris         

Island Thyme dancing Skirmishes Quicksbottom dancing Duntze Head or Drowsy Maggie

Bowen Island, BC, Canada with Black Sheep Morris Dancers

Watch Bowen TV for footage of our 2008 May Day

Seattle, WA with North by North West Morris, Sound and Fury Morris, The Mossyback Morris Men, and Misty City Morris

Portland, OR with Bridgetown Morris Men, Iron Mountain Sword, Renegade Rose Morris, Wild Rose Garland, Two Rivers Morris, and Raven's Magic

Bridgetown Morris Men performing Abbotts Bromley or White Ladies Aston Renegade Rose Morris dancing The Idiot or Weavers March

Sebastopol, CA with

• 5:30 am - Come help Apple Tree Morris celebrate the beauty of Spring in Sonoma County as we dance up the sun on May Day at the Teen Garden Labyrinth next door to the Sebastopol Community Center Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street, in Sebastopol.  The dancing goes through sunrise and a little bit more (around 6:20 am), and then you are welcome to join us for a potluck breakfast at 7:00 am nearby.
• There will be morris dancing to watch and country dances everyone can do, as well as wonderful music and singing. We'd love it if you'd join us for this celebration!  Dress warmly, since it tends to be chilly before dawn, and you may want a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.
• Directions:
  • From Santa Rosa and points east: Get onto Highway 12 around Sebastopol.  Turn right/north at the light onto Morris Street, and park when the street turns left.
  • From Sebastopol: Get onto Highway 12 heading towards Santa Rosa, and at the first light outside of town (near Bradley Video), turn left/north onto Morris Street and park when the street turns left.
• For more information, email or call 707-823-6925
  
  

  	Apple Tree Morris dancing Grenadiers or Speed the Plough
  	California Revels May Day, 2009 with Apple Tree Morris and Deer Creek Morris Men

San Francisco, CA with Goat Hill Morris

• Meet at the top of Twin Peaks around 5:45 am, in the parking lot overlooking downtown, the East Bay and (in theory) the rising sun.
 Dancing starts around 6:00 am.
• For EXACT directions and more information, email or call Heather at (510) 653-7507
   

Berkeley, CA with  

• 5:15 am to 7:00 am - Meet at Inspiration Point, high up on Wildcat Canyon Road in Tilden Park.  Check out the directions or see the Yahoo map.  Abbot's Bromley Horn Dance at 5:20 am, sunrise expected at 6:13 am.  Dress warmly!
• If you can't make it for sunrise, catch up with Berkeley the rest of the day:
  • 11:00 am - The sidewalk outside of the Hudson Bay Cafe at College and Hudson in Oakland.
  • 12:00 noon - The sidewalk outside of Espresso Roma at Ashby and College in Elmwood
  • 1:00 pm - Downtown Berkeley BART station on Shattuck at Center
• For more information contact the

Palo Alto, CA with Deer Creek Morris Men, and Mad Molly 

• 5:30 am to 7:00 am - Meet at the Palo Alto Baylands  (take Embarcadero East from the US-101 to the end of the road, turn left, go past the airport, bear right, past the Duck Pond and the Ranger Station and park in the first lot on the left (before crossing the river).
• Watch in entranced silence to the open strains of the haunting Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
• Join in as everyone learns English Country or Morris dances for all.  Yes!   We actually teach these!
• For more information contact:
• Deer Creek Morris Men: email squire
• Mad Molly: email squire or call 408-830-9109



See video excerpts of May Day past, care of Maryam Webster (disclaimer - some names of persons and dances in titles are inaccurate)

Santa Cruz, CA with Seabright Morris and Sword and White Rats Morris

Santa Barbara, CA with Pacific Sword Company and the Morris Men

• 6:00 am to noon - pursuing our annual tradition of sleeping in.
• 5:00 pm - Revels hosts its 4th annual May Day celebration in the Center Court at Paseo Nuevo Shopping Center, 600 block of State Street with lots of spectacle and audience participation:
  • There will be flowers available to make garlands and headpieces.
  • Come join in the May Pole celebration and learn how to weave the ribbons 'round the pole.
  • Our song leader will lead everyone in seasonal songs and rounds.
  • We'll teach everyone a Circle Dance and have a demo of a Sword Dance and English Country Dance
  • All of this will be accompanied by our musical ensemble.
• For more information, email or call Susan Keller at 805-565-9357.

Los Angeles, CA with Rising Phoenix Morris     

San Diego, CA with   

• Meet us before dawn at the top of Mount Soledad Park in La Jolla.  Arrive early to hike up the hill.
• 5:45 am - Dance up the sun on Soledad Mountain
• 6:30 am - Breakfast at Harry's in La Jolla
• Locations/Directions (directions are progressive):
  • Mira Mesa and I15: Take I15 South to SR163.  Keep Right on to SR163.  Take the SR52 exit to go West.  Go straight over I5 onto La Jolla Parkway.  Turn Left at the Torrey Pines Road Intersection.  Go up Hidden Valley Road until it T's into Via Capri.  Turn Right onto Via Capri.  Wind up the mountain until that T's into Soledad Road and La Jolla Scenic Drive.  Turn left onto Soledad Road and drive through the gate, if it is open, or park if it is not.
  • Soledad Mountain (From I5): Take Garnet West to Soledad Mountain Road. Turn Right/North on Soledad Mountain Road and go till it ends in a T. Turn Right onto La Jolla Scenic Drive. Drive into the Soledad Natural Park and look for morris dancers.
  • To Harry's - (from Soledad Mountain): From the park head back down Via Capri La Jolla Parkway and Torrey Pines Road.  Go West on Torrey Pines Road, Left on Girard at the Von's.  Harry's should be right there on your left (across from the Von's Parking lot).
• For more information, email squire
  

Denver, CO with Breathless in Berthoud Border Morris, Maroon Bells Morris and Tommyknockers Children's Morris

Come see these free performances from almost the only morris dancers in the Rocky Mountain Time Zone!  You can thank us now - we dance so you don't have to!

Tempe, AZ with

Photo by Raven Kline

• 5:00 am to 7:00 am - Come to the amphitheatre on the lake in Kiwanis Park, Tempe, Arizona, specifically at the amphitheatre on the lake.  Coffee, pastries, and fruit will be provided.
• For more information (including directions), email squire or call 480-286-2122.

Minneapolis, MN with Bells of the North, Gypsies, Minnesota Traditional Morris, Northern Lights, Ramsey's Braggarts, and Uptown-On-Calhoun

Madison, WI with Oak Apple Morris

St. Louis, MO with River Rats and The Capering Roisters

Bloomington, IN with

• 6:45 am - Continuing their 25 plus-year tradition, Bloomington Quarry Morris dances at sunrise at the Monroe County Courthouse in Bloomington's central square, 100 West Kirkwood Avenue.
• Afterwards is a team breakfast in a secret location disclosed only to the inner cadre of the team.
• Sometime afterwards - a couple of performances at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2120 North Fee Lane, along with a maypole dance with the kids there (contact us for specifics if you're interested).
• Come noonish and we return to the Courthouse for more dancing and another maypole, then off to a private house party.
• You can also see us on Monday, May 2nd during our schools tour:
  • 9:00 am - University School, 1111 North Russell Road
  • 10:00 am - Binford Elementary, 2300 East 2nd Street
  • 11:00 am - Harmony School, 909 East 2nd Street
• For more information, contact or call 812-330-8975.
   

  Watch the team's 2009 May Day Winster processional

Berea, KY with Squash Beetle Morris

• 6:30am to 8:30am - in front of the Frost building on the Berea College campus (on Chestnut street, across the street from the president's house, which is clearly marked. There is a mid-block pedestrian crosswalk nearby (the only one).
  • Directions: there are a few parking spaces on the street right in front, but please keep those clear so people can see us dance from the street.  Park half a block back. If coming from afar, you can take exit 77 off I-75, take the immediate right to get on 595 toward Berea. after 1.5 miles, go straight through light at Ellipse, and up the hill. At the next light (in front of Papaleno's) follow the road to curve to the right. At the next light, go straight, you are now on Chestnut street, find parking here, the crosswalk and maypole are 1/4 block ahead, on the right.
  • Morris dancing starts at dawn.  There will be some English Country dances and a maypole for all to join in, and then serve hot breakfast for all.
• 12:00 noon - Squash Beetle dances at an Occupy demonstration in downtown Lexington
• For more information, email Squash Beetle contact

Toronto, ON Canada with Toronto Women's Sword and others

• 6:00 am - performance with a few other teams in the Toronto Area at High Park, across from the Grenadier restaurant.  TWS usually performs a longsword and a rapper dance with 5,6 or 7 dancers
• Afterwards, head back to the house of a member of one of the teams for a pot-luck breakfast.
• There is street dancing for the rest of the day, usually loosely organized at the breakfast.  For more information, email

Pittsburgh, PA with
 

We'll be dancing at dawn at the outlook closest to the top of Monongahela Incline.  Join us to watch the beautiful view of the sunrise from the bluffs of Mount Washington as we welcome in the spring!  Participate in the singing and maypole dancing.  Parking is available at the top of the incline (both on-street, or in the nearby paid lot at Shiloh and Virginia).  Incline starts at 5:30 a.m. if you want to ride up to the dance from Station Square (Incline information).

Approximate Schedule:

Norwich, VT with Green Meadow Morris, Maple Leaf Morris and Four Corners Morris

• 5:30am - Dance up the sun at Thetford Green, Thetford Hill, VT.  Sometimes there's a Maypole as well.
• For more information, email
  
  

  Watch Maple Tree as the sun peeks over the horizon on May Day 2010

Putney, VT with Putney Morris Men, and Putney Mountain Morris Women

Syracuse, NY with Heartwood Morris Dancers, Bassett Street Hounds, Ribbonsteel Rapper, Wild Blue Morris, and Snowbelt Morris, hosted by Thornden Morris

Nelson, NH with Harrisville Morris Women and Jack in the Green

Albany, NY with Pokingbrook Morris Dancers

Great Barrington, MA with the

Amherst (area), MA with Juggler Meadow Morris Men, Hart's Brook Garland, Marlboro Morris Men, Wake Robin Morris, Rapscallion Rapper

                                                                                                                   Wake Robin Morris                                    Rapscallion Rapper

Boston, MA with Newtowne Morris Men and the Country Dance Society - Boston Center hosting Red Herring Morris, Muddy River Morris, Banbury Cross Morris, Mulberry Morris, HopBrook Morris, Ha'Penny Morris, Commonwealth Morris Men, Great Meadows Morris, Clownfish Rapper, and associated other rapper sides.

 

Newtone Morris Men                                    Red Herring                                         Muddy River                                        Banbury Cross

 
    Ha'Penny Morris                         Commonwealth Morris Men                                Great Meadows Morris

This May Day celebration has been annually going on since 1973.  It may be the oldest continuing May Day celebration in the USA.

Narragansett, RI with Ladies of the Rolling Pin     

• 5:40 am - dance at dawn at Narragansett Town beach near the Towers.  There's a lovely potluck breakfast after dancing.
• 1:00 pm - dancing at the Fairy Festival at Blithewold Gardens and Mansion
• For more information, email

New London, CT with Westerly Morris Men

• 5:30 am - dance on the Connecticut College campus in New London, CT
• For more information, email

New Haven, CT with New Haven Morris and Sword

• 5:40 am to 6:45 am - Edgerton Park in New Haven, corner of Whitney Avenue and Cliff Street.  If that entrance is closed, try the gate on Edgehill Road opposite Edgehill Terrace.  We dance on the Great Lawn in the center of the park.
• We plan to dance at 5:30 pm on Cross Campus at Yale, in front of Sterling Library.
• For more information, email squire
  
  

  Check out our 2008 ale video

Brooklyn, NY with Ring O'Bells 

The May Pole is an all-inclusive, multi-generational event.  All are welcome.

• 5:45 am - Nellie's Lawn in Prospect Park (meet at the Grand Army Plaza entrance to the park).
• 6:00 am - Maypole time - dig the hole, get the pole, make the ribbons!
• 6:45 am - Grab a ribbon and join the dance.  People are invited to bring a short reading on a spring theme (baby animals has been a traditional mention) if they would like to read something aloud after the May Pole dance.
• 7:15 am - Potluck picnic breakfast and Morris dancing.
• For more information, email then
  
  

  See Ring O'Bells on May Day 2006

New York City, NY with Bouwerie Boys Morris Dancers

Princeton, NJ with Millstone River Morris, Stony Brook Morris, Handsome Molly, and Mercer Maypole Dancers

Philadelphia, PA with Kingsessing Morris and possible guest Renegade Morris

 

• 6:00 am to 7:00 am (or more) - dancing at dawn on top of Belmont Plateau, Fairmount Park, 2000 Belmont Mansion Dr, rain or shine,with a likely appearance by Renegade Morris and a possible sword team or two.
• For more information, email squire
   

See Kingsessing Morris do the dances Takking from May Day 2009 and Devils Highway from May Day 2010 Check out 3 generations of Renegade Morris doing Steamfitters from May Day 2011

Washington, DC with Foggy Bottom Morris Men hosting Rock Creek Morris Women, Arlington Northwest Morris Women and Charm City Sword

       

Charlottesville, VA with Kalidescope Rapper and Albemarle Morris Men (with a possible guest appearance by Underground Morris)

Albemarle Morris Men

Yorktown, VA with Flying Bark Morris

• Sunrise at Felgate's Creek, Yorktown VA (on the Colonial Parkway)
• For more information, email

Asheville, NC with Asheville Morris Men and Ashgrove Garland

Gainsville, FL with

  Check out our May Day Tour map

• 06:45 am Sunrise - dancing, maypole, and Mayday Flower boat race at Baughman Center on UF's Lake Alice next to the alligators  (placemark A on the map).
• 08:00 am to 09:00 am - Grandy's Restaurant, (placemark B on the map).
• 09:30 am to 10:30 am - Devil's Millhopper sinkhole, pilgrimage to the bottom of the 120-foot deep sinkhole and dancing on the boardwalk at the bottom (placemark C on the map).
• For more information, email squire

What IS Morris Dancing?

Morris dancing is a living tradition of English celebratory and ritual dance with live music, and origins shrouded in mystery and the mists of time.   Shakespeare used it in his plays and it was old then.  The dancers usually wear bells at their knees and often wave hankies (to attract and welcome benevolent spring and summer spirits) or clash sticks (symbolizing the eternal battle between winter and summer), and the dances have traditionally been performed around the time of major celebration or seasonal cross points in the calendar.  Indeed, dances of comparable form and dancers in similar costumes are found elsewhere in Europe and around the world, and may be thought to be part of the universal urge to influence and honor the unknowable forces which govern our lives.

One of the most colourful descriptions of morris was provided in the 15th century, by Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh, the Black Adder who said, "Morris dancing is the most fatuous, tenth-rate entertainment ever devised by man.  Fourty effeminate blacksmiths waving bits of cloth they've just wiped their noses on.  How it's still going on in this day and age I'll never know."

Modern morris includes several different types of dance, all from different regions of England; Cotswold Morris from the south, Border Morris from the west, Molly Dancing from the southeast, and Northwest Morris from the northwest.  Other dance styles such as Longsword, Rapper (sword), Clog, and Garland are often included in the term "morris".

There are lots of ways to get more detail about Morris dancing, but the absolutely best way is to find a morris dancer, take them to a pub, offer them refreshment, and ask for the real story.  It's guaranteed good luck, too!