Enjoy the Day Tomorrow!

Monday 4th of May

From the website - oh, yes, and there will be a few motorbikes around too!

The Grand Procession

* 2015 Procession Route

This is likely to be the same as in 2013 and 2014, which was

Fishermen's Museum, All Saints Street, across the Bourne, High Street - break for refreshments - Swan Terrace, Croft Road, Collier Road, Priory Road, West Hill.

** For reasons of health and safety, the organisers request performers to not access George Street to dance on Monday the 4th of May 2015.**

Breakfast, 7:30am

Start the day with a hearty "Morris Dancer Breakfast" to fuel you up for the day ahead. Everyone all welcome and proceeds to "The Two Towers Trust"

St. Mary Star of the Sea Church Crypt
access from The Bourne, Hastings old town
From 7:30am until 9:00am

The Gathering

The Bogies, Morris sides, Sweeps and a host of colourful characters gather outside the Fisherman's museum on Rock-a-Nore Road eagerly awaiting the Jack. The greening begins here!

Net Huts
Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings old town

Jack is released, approx. 10:00am

The Jack is released from the Fisherman's Museum and bursts into the crowd. Make way as Mad Jack's Women welcome him by performing a dance around him. Then the procession forms up. Following the Jack and the Bogies are Mad Jack's Morris, the Sweeps and the May Queen, Hannah's Cat, The Lovely Ladies and the Gay Bogies, Giants, visiting performing groups and the rhythm section.

Fisherman's museum
Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings old town

High Street

The procession weaves its way through the Old Town and stops in the High Street between the FILO pub and Swan Terrace for refreshment and dancing.

Please stay on the pavement as The High Street will be very crowded at this point and please be mindful of performers and others around you. Jack will make his way from one end of High Street to the other as he greets all of the participants in the procession.

High Street
Hastings old town

The Procession continues, 12:00pm

The procession reforms and sets off again, winding up Swan Terrace, Croft Road, along Collier Road and finally along Priory Road and onto the West Hill.

Croft Road, leading to Collier Road
Hastings old town

The West Hill 12:00pm

Once again the procession and day will reach its climax on the West Hill festival site.

While the procession is making its way up from the old town The Fabulous Red Diesel band will once again perform on stage until the procession arrives.

Please note that open fires and barbecues will not be allowed on the site during the event and we ask that all dogs please be kept on leads.

Admission is free and all are welcome.

Festival site, Priory Road,
West Hill, Hastings

Procession arrives on the West Hill, approx 12:30pm

The Jack arrives at the festival site on the West Hill where the Bogies drum the procession in.

The Jack has his own stage this year where he will preside over proceedings on the hill until it is time for him to be slain.

Morris Dancing on the West Hill

Enjoy the afternoon as each Morris side showcases their dancing. Visit the Craft Fayre, tuck into some tasty snacks from the food stalls and visit the fully licensed bar to enjoy your favourite local real ales.

New this year will be a second stage area for dancing and there are other entertainments planned, including activities for children and story telling. More details to follow.

The Slaying of the Jack, approx. 3:30pm

After the dancing, the Bogies parade the Jack down to the main stage where he is symbolically slain and the Spirit of Summer is released for another year.

The End, approx. 4:30pm