Jack in the Green 2023

A few photographs...

Starting the day off at the bar 😉

Not to forget the motorcycles...

 

Hastings May Day 2019

2019, and yet another May Day, which means Jack in the Green, and this year the forecast is for fine weather, fingers crossed! For the first time, the Dolphin Inn will be open from 08.00 for breakfast, so I may well take advantage, many thanks! But back to the event... May 6th 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 will form behind him proceed along Rock-a-Nore Road, then turning up All Saints Street, crossing The Bourne at the top, and carrying on down High Street, where the procession pauses for refreshments (ale!), music and dancing (website).

About 12.00 noon the procession will continue on, turning right by St Clements Church and winding 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!"

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! 

But it's not just Jack in the Green to enjoy, as every year for 40 years now, Hastings also hosts Bike1066 and this will be the 41st 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 well 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! (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, last year being the 40th May Day Run, saw over 40,000 motorbikes come to Hastings! 

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 (facebook page). Just tour the area, as many pubs will have live music, and ale, and other refreshments of course. Please do enjoy Hastings May Day public holiday 2019, have fun!

More May Day Motorbikes & Blue Sky!

Taking advantage of sharing these further photographs, and with many thanks to our roving photographic reporter, Marcus, cheers!

 Slightly edited images, many thanks!

May the 7th, in Pictures!

Early doors! 

Rock-a-Nore Road 06.00 

Giant awaits! 

The Jack passes RX134 

The Giant's relieved! 

Front of Parade turns right! 

And there were bikes 

Many bikes! 

And I'm leaving the fray now... started drinking at 09.00 (the pub was open!), I shan't own up to how many pints I drank, but I was (reasonably) sensible, I even had an excellent homemade Cheese & Red Onion Roll for £2.50 at the Dolphin!

Roll on next year! 😉 

Hastings Jack in the Green + 40th May Day Run!

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!

Saturday in Hastings, Photographs & A Bit More!

Good morning! I'm actually starting off yesterday's images at where I last took a photograph, just before I entered the Cinque Ports Arms in All Saints Street, where Harveys Sussex Best Bitter and Fullers ESB were both enjoyed, cheers!

The Crown, All Saints Street

Earlier, in the town centre with the Isle of Man TT simulator situated just in front of Debenhams, see the Bike1066 website.

Then I wandered along the seafront to Hastings Pier, for which, as you will have seen in recent blogs (for example), there is a Friends of Hastings Pier campaign to raise money to keep the Pier in community ownership, I've pledged a contribution towards the Community Ownership Bid at Crowdfunding, if you have any money to pledge too, please do, the people of Hastings and visitors who love the Pier will be extremely grateful, many thanks!

Still on the Pier, which sees Hastings Pier hosting aPIERtite (website) over the 3 day holiday weekend, much too much going on to mention all of it here, but there's free admission, street food from all over the world on offer, an eclectic range of music (here the stage is being set up and decorated with greenery), and other entertainment, not to mention promenading on the award winning People's Pier! 

Pavilion Restaurant with Greenery

I then wandered eastwards and took this early doors photograph of the Bike1066 Breakout Zone (website) at the Stade Open Space.

The Wall of Death!

Oh yes, still too early to visit the pub, but plenty of interesting motorcycles turning up to whet your appetite for tomorrow (Monday) and the 40th Hastings May Day Run!

Hastings Weekend Pre-Jack in the Green.

We all are aware that on Monday, thousands will swell Hastings old town streets, notably with the great weather forecast, but also sees the 40th May Day Run, so thousands of motorbikes too (website), and with events all over the weekend at the Stade and Rock music at the Azur Marina Pavilion on Sunday, plenty to do... Also at:

Saturday to Monday and Hastings Pier has 3 days of aPIERtite (website), too much to mention here, but free admission, street food from all over the world, music and other entertainment, not to mention walking onto the award winning Hastings Pier! As you will have seen in other blogs (for example), there is a campaign to raise money to keep the Pier in community ownership by Friends of Hastings Pier, I've pledged money at Crowdfunding, if you have any money to pledge too, please do, the people of Hastings and visitors who love the Pier will be extremely grateful, many thanks!

Of course, by Monday morning we'll have built up the tension to see the Jack released from the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road and the ensuing procession, but music, dancing and general entertainment is to be had all over the old town today (Saturday) and tomorrow; go to the website for more details.

Lots of fun to be had this weekend, indeed!

May Day 2017

OK, mostly about the bikes this year, the weather didn't help 😉

Early doors...

The calm before the storm, entering Rock-a-Nore Road...

Started drinking by 09.00, and some made that plain! 😕

Retreading my steps towards the West...

Bikes, eh?!?