2018, and another May Day, which means Jack in the Green, and this year the forecast is for plenty of sun and blue sky too! I seem to have written about little recently, except this annual Hastings event, motorbikes, local politics, and saving Hastings Pier, again! But May 7th this year will again see the Jack released from Hastings Fishermen's Museum at 10.15, attendants, Bogies and Giants will gather around the Jack, and the procession forms behind him and is led up Rock-a-Nore Road, then turns up All Saints Street, crosses The Bourne at the top, and carries on down High Street, where the procession pauses for refreshments (ale!), music and dancing (website).
About 12.00 noon the procession will set off again, turn right by St Clements Church and wind up Croft Road and Collier Road to the West Hill, arriving about 12.30. On the West Hill stage there will be more music, dancing, drumming and frivolities, and close by will be food stalls and refreshments, including more ale, a craft fair, and toilet facilities. After a couple of hours the Jack will be led by the Bogies to the stage and will be "symbolically slain and the Spirit of Summer is released for another year!" Nice one!
The history behind the Jack in the Green May Day Festival goes back hundreds of years, but the local custom faded away towards the end of the 19th century. The custom was revived in Hastings by Mad Jacks Morris Dancers in 1983, and a 20th/21st century Jack in the Green custom and festival developed to the present day, when thousands turn up to dress and make up, or just to observe the procession, or just have a few ales, and yes, Hastings does like to dress up! However you take part, the weather forecast is for clear blue skies, so don't forget your factor 50 and hat if you plan to be out in the sun for any length of time, and enjoy the day!
But it's not just Jack in the Green to enjoy this year as Hastings also hosts Bike1066 and the 40th annual motorcycle May Day Run with the roar of engines beginning to herald the arrival of bikers along the seafront, and down London Road, Queens Road and Old London Road from before 09.00. Bikers, motorcycle enthusiasts and the motorcycle trade and industry come together in Hastings, and the diversity of bikes year after year never ceases to amaze me. This year further events and exhibitions have been organised within the Breakout Zone all weekend, including providing food and drink, the Wall of Death, and the Isle of Man TT simulator (website).
Motorcycles take over the seafront from here below All Saints Street at Rock-a-Nore Road in front of the Stade, in Pelham Car Park, and all along to Hastings Pier. I've walked by the Town Hall in Queens Road and even seen numerous bikes parked there in previous years, and the town centre itself boasts many relevant motorbike, helmets and accessory stalls from quite early in the morning, as does Pelham Car Park by the beach, and the Stade Open Space, as I suggested earlier.
So, if you want to see motorbikes you can't miss them, but the larger number find their way to Pelham Car Park, by Pelham Beach and below Pelham Crescent (above), where thousands park up every year, and this being the 40th May Day Run will likely see a record number of motorbikes in Hastings this year! Again, if you're a pedestrian admiring the bikes on show, or you've taken off your helmet after a long ride, remember that this is the seaside, and there won't be clouds in the sky, so head covering of some sort, or applying Factor 50, would be highly recommended, enjoy your day!
Of course though, there are many other places offering live music and entertainment, ales and wines, seafood in Rock-a-Nore Road (this area is by the centre of the Hastings Fishing Industry!), and other special culinary delights and refreshments, including at the Lifeboat Station from 10am to 4pm, and on Hastings Pier for most of the day (website). Just tour the area, as many pubs will have live music, and ale and other refreshments of course. Do enjoy Hastings May Day holiday 2018, and have fun!
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