Come One, Come All!
It’s May Day morning -
Help us dance up the sun!


(the Morris community’s answer
to "dancing 'till dawn")

Morris Dancer
Original image reproduced courtesy EFDSS
Morris dancers throughout North America will gather together with their sticks, ribbons, bells, hankies, and baldrics, for music and dance in our annual May Day celebrations (this year Wednesday, May 1st, 2013).  We dance to wake up the Sun and keep it coming back up for a whole year!  Besides being a great deal of fun, does this show dedication or what?!  You may have noticed that it works, too.

Be a part of it. Show up while it’s dark and watch the Sun make its grand entrance.  See the spectacle!  Watch the magic!  Cheer the dancers!   Join in the celebration!  Wonder why you’re up at this hour!  Wear whatever you want, but bring layers - it may be cold this early in the morning.

FIND A MAYDAY CELEBRATION NEAR YOU
Click on a Location or Team from the list below to get details about a specific venue

(Information below is currently from 2012 - updates from 2013 coming shortly!)

Meanwhile, taste the imagery of
Rose Blakeley's Ceremony of May

 


Locations/Time Zones (north to south within each column, sort've):

Pacific

Mountain

Central

Eastern

Teams (alphabetic by name):

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

Vancouver with Vancouver Morris Men while Tiddley Cove Morris provide a May Queen

 

  • 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         
  • Continuing their 20+-year tradition, the Victoria sides will gather around 5:30 am at Clover Point (and here's another map), located on the Victoria waterfront along Dallas Road just east of Beacon Hill Park.  See a variety of dance styles with Hollytree performing Cotswold, Island Thyme performing Northwest, and Quicksbottom performing Border.  The Maypole goes up around 5:30 am and dancing will begin soon after.  There's also community dancing (audience participation) and a Spiral Dance after sun-up.  Feel free to gather some of the May Pole garlands and take them home.  It's usually a windy affair, but on a clear morning, the view of the sun coming over Mount Baker is definitely worth it.
  • Afterwards, there's a potluck champagne breakfast for dancers and friends at someone's home.  Let us know you're coming and we'll invite you too!
  • Contacts for more information (including other possible events during the day)
    • Island Thyme's or call 250-598-2612
    • Hollytree's or call 250-656-9609
    • Quicksbottom's or call 250-656-2920
Island Thyme dancing Skirmishes
Quicksbottom dancing Duntze Head or Drowsy Maggie

Bowen Island, BC, Canada with Black Sheep Morris Dancers
  • 5 am - dance at The Causeway
  • 5:30am and 6:30 am - greet the departing ferry commuters at the Cove.
  • 10 am - a Maypole dance - yes, a Maypole dance! - in front of the Library, morris dancing, and a possible appearance by the Black Lambs!
  • For more information, email our squire
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

  • Dancers will gather about 30 minutes before sunrise (5:52 am) at Gas Works park. The entrance is located on the north side of lake Union, at 3300 Burke Ave N, Seattle WA.  Dancing will be on the southern most point of the park near the water.
  •   Don't be surprised if there's singing of May songs as well
  • For more information:
    • North by North West - email the or call Libby 206-323-7519 or Judy 206-634-2535
    • Sound and Fury Morris - email the

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

  • 5:30 am to sun up! At the Washington Park Rose Test Gardens, (if driving use Washington Park Rose Garden entrance at 400 SW Kingston Ave near the tennis courts).  Dance in the driveway near the gift shop.  Canopy is available for dancers / musicians as needed.
    • 5:30 am - start with the Abbotts Bromley Horn Dance
    • 5:47 am-ish - Set up and teach community / social dance
    • 5:59 am - is when we expect the sunrise
    • 6:00 am - morris dancing at the Rose Garden until it's time to leave
  • 9:45 am to 11:00 am - Director Park Downton, SW Yamhill and 9th Ave
  • 11:15 am to 12:15 pm - If sunny, dance at the Salmon Street fountain area; if rain, dance under the Hawthorne Bridge (there's a Smart Park at 1st and Jefferson)
  • Contact the individual teams for more information:
    • Bridgetown Morris Men: email or call Charley at 503-702-5282
    • Iron Mountain Sword: email
    • Renegade Rose Morris: email or call 503-860-6611
    • Wild Rose Garland: email
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 Deer Creek 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     

  • 5:45 am to ??? - Venice Pier: use the parking lot at the end of Washington Blvd (Ocean is the last main cross street) - in anticipation for the 6:00 am sunrise (you should be able to find a Washington off-ramp from I-405 and head west).
  • Breakfast is at a nearby cafe after the dancing.
  • For more information email squire

San Diego, CA with   Morton Bay Fig Morris

  • 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

The Twin Cities has a joint Sun Up ceremony,  located on the Mississippi Park in Minneapolis at the top of the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, where 36th Street 'T's with West River Parkway.  Just follow the sound of the bells.

  • Most people show up between 5:30 am and 5:50 am.   Abrams Circle steps off promptly at 6:02 am, just at sun up.  The Abrams is open to anyone who knows the dance - no need to be active on one of the morris sides.   Typically we have 100+ participants in the Abrams.  After the Abrams Circle the teams continue to do mass dances interspersed with one or two show dances from each team, typically in the order of team seniority.
  • After Sun up, those who don't need to rush off to work join for a mass breakfast at a local restaurant.  Then the teams typically split up and do guerilla dancing at various places around the Twin Cities (sometimes with two more teams, sometimes solo).  As this varies from year to year there is no 'map' to the guerilla morris dancing.  
  • About 4:30 pm the teams meet up again and dance on the outdoor Nicollet Mall and the IDS Center Plaza in Downtown Minneapolis.  Finally at the end of the day, the teams retire to a local pub for dinner, ale and singing.
  • For additional information, email Upton's squire Don

Madison, WI with Oak Apple Morris


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

  • 5:30am - meet at the front of the historic in Forest Park Jewel Box.  All are welcome, and over the years quite a crowd has accumulated!  Dancing continues for at least an hour and usually longer.
  • For more information, email front person


Chicago, IL with Pullman Morris and Sword
  • 7:00 am - Dance in Arcade Park located approximately at 11111 S. Forestville in Chicago.
  • Home-based breakfast at a private home about 1/2 block away for any that will.
  • Ask about the all-inclusive Grecian Urn which involves any and all participants and spectators.
  • For more information, email or call 773-291-0005

Ann Arbor, MI with and The Quality
  • 5:45 am - Meet on the overlook down the high-road path from the Geddes street entrance to Nichols Arboretum.  Dancing starts at 6:00 am.  When that's done, we dance in the Diag in Ann Arbor, then go somewhere to breakfast and sometimes dance some more afterwards.
  • For details on the day's schedule other information, email squire

    Watch a video of Ann Arbor Morris


Grand Rapids, MI with Bells of River City
  • 6:00 am - Heartside Park
  • 6:45 am - Pearl Street Big Boy
  • 8:00 am - Fish ladder and/or bridges
  • 9:00 am - Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, 3000 Monroe Ave. NW
  • 10:15 am - Explorer Elmentary, 68th east of K'Zoo Av
  • For more information, email co-squires or

    Watch a video of Bells of River City May Day 2009

Bloomington, IN with


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:

  • 6:00am to sunrise (officially 6:19 am, but in reality whenever we declare the sun to be “up” - hopefully it will be obvious!): Singing, morris dancing, and toasting the sun up.
    • 6:30 am to 6:40 am - May Day cake and general maypole dancing.
    • 6:40 am to 7:00 am - More dancing at singing.
  • We may also be doing some guerilla morris after breakfast, so watch out – you never know where we might pop up!
  • For more information, email

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

  • Continue the 20+ year tradition of morris dancing for Mayday sunrise on the top of Putney Mountain (a 1 mile hike in from the Putney Mountain Parking lot at the top of Putney Mountain Road.  Park by 5am to walk up and see dancing at 5:30am (and hopefully sunrise at 5:45am) with a crowd of 75+ onlookers (if the weather is good, 40+ if rainy/snowy).
  • 6:45a - Dancing at the Putney Town Hall, after which the teams retire to the Putney Diner for their end-of-season breakfast.
  • For more information, email squires or

    Watch Putney Morris Men at Town Hall, May Day 2008
    Watch Putney Mountain Morris Women on the mountain, May Day 2011

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

  • 6:00 am to 7:30 am - Dancing at dawn at the Water tower in Thornden Park, Syracuse.  Dawn dancing includes a topical mummer's play, singing, and a Maypole dance for all (sequence will be taught).  Coffee and morris cake will be provided.  But WAIT!  There's lots more details provided by the Hounds and Thornden - check it out!
  • Afterwards, a group breakfast, then dancing until lunch.  There are rumors of a May Memorial at the Unitarian Universalist Church, and along the route of Mountain Goat Run, at a time to be determined.
  • Noonish - likely lunch at the Blue Tusk.
  • Morning dancing and possibl evening plans are still evolving.  For more information, email or .

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

  • 5:30 am to sunrise - dancing on the Nelson Town Common, in Nelson
  • For more information email squires or .

Albany, NY with Pokingbrook Morris Dancers


Pokingbrook Morris has been dancing up the sun in Washington Park in Albany for over 35 years.
  • 6:30 am ("morris dawn") - gather near the Moses statue that faces Madison Avenue, and dance for an hour or more.
  • Afterwards, adjourn to a local diner for breakfast, bringing many of our regular fans with us.
  • In the early afternoon, arrive at Universal Pathways in Berne NY, for a maypole, picnic, and more morris dancing.
  • Anyone who can't make it for the early morning dancing and/or wants to catch up with the tour later on should email or call 518-464-8603 and leave a message.

Great Barrington, MA with the

  • There is a private, team-only event as sunrise in an undisclosed location
  • 11:00 am - Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School on Pumpkin Hollow Road in Great Barrington.  A self-catered lawn picnic after the dancing is always part of the school event
  • For more information, email

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
  • Dancing the sun up:
    • Juggler Meadow Morris Men, or so they claim - they're being awfully quiet about it
    • Marlboro Morris Men, Poets Seat in Greenfield
    • Wake Robin Morris, on top of Mt. Pollux in So. Amherst, followed by breakfast
  • For more information on Wake Robin Morris, email their

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.

  • 5:30 am - the Weeks Footbridge going over the Charles River in Cambridge by Boyleston St.  There will be a Maypole, Morris dancing, Garland dancing, some folk dance and much singing.  This is a community event.  Everybody joins in the Maypole, the dancing and the singing.  Hundreds of people usually show up.
  • Wax nostalgic and get the feeling of a May Day past.
  • For more information, email

    Watch the videos from May Day 2003 and May Day 2005

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

  • 5:30 am - walk the Pole downtown from 110th St. and Riverside Dr.  Folks wanting to join us for this very lovely walk through cherry blossoms can call 212-874-4037 and ask for directions.
  • 6:30 am to 7:30am - Riverside Park at around 79th St., below the soldiers and sailors monument. (Take Subway #1,2,3 to 86th Street, walk west to the park, then keep your eyes open
  • Occasionally, when May 1 falls on the weekend, we dance out in Central Park after breakfast.
  • For more information, email

    Watch a video of Bouwerie Boys in action!

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

    Rock Creek Morris Women   
  • Dawn (around 6:10 am) - dance at the gazebo on the corner of Carroll and Westmoreland in Takoma Park, MD (just a hair north of the DC line) regardless of what day of the week it is for about an hour.  Directions: Red line metro to Takoma station, walk north on Carroll .3 miles to gazebo.
  • A city tour follows, varying every year but usually ending no earlier than mid afternoon (and frequently later than that).   In recent years, the tour has been a metro oriented one.  For 2012, we can definitely say there's dancing 11:30am at Franklin Park, 14th St NW between I and K Streets downtown.
  • For more information, email
    • Foggy Bottom's
    • Arlington's

    Check out our 2009 May Day slideshow of Takoma Park

Charlottesville, VA with Kalidescope Rapper and Albemarle Morris Men (with a possible guest appearance by Underground Morris)
Albemarle Morris Men
  • 6:00 am to sunrise - Lee Park, one block north of the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville (there is no off-street parking).  There are usually muffins and hard boiled eggs available.  Feel free to bring your own coffee or treats (although it's luckier if you bring enough for the dancers, too!)
  • For more information, email Kalidescope squire

    Check out Kalidescope at the Mira concert, December, 2010

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

  • As part of the Asheville May Day celebration, the teams tours downtown, ending at Pritchard Park.  Public participation Maypole to end the tour followed presentation at English Country Dance at the Asheville Arts Center at 4p
  • For more information, email or call 1-828-333-4272

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!


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Last update January 12, 2013
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