Hastings Jack in the Green Weekend & May Day

Yesterday morning I wandered into Hastings Old Town to take some photographs helping to map out how the 40th anniversary Hastings Jack in the Green procession develops, which I wrote about in a blog on Friday. Tomorrow, May Day, the main event kicks off when Jack is released from Hastings Fishermen's Museum (website) in Rock-a-Nore Road at about 10.15 usually. Jack is welcomed, there's a wee bit of music and dancing and twirling around, then the procession begins by heading westwards; see their website for further details of the event.

I am using specific landmarks, including the museum, which I've chosen as pubs en route that are using the Hastings Old Town Cup, as I mentioned in my blog, as a decent attempt to be more environmentally friendly this year, hopefully with significantly fewer plastic cups being thrown away. The first such pub the procession passes will be The Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road (website).

After passing by, the procession will then turn right and proceed up All Saints Street, where it will pass The Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street (website).

The procession continues up the street and reaches The Stag Inn, 14 All Saints Street (website), just before turning left to cross The Bourne; remember that much of the Old Town will be shut off to traffic for a while to enable the safe crossing, and the safety of the procession and the many members of the public who will be watching/following.

The procession will then continue down the High Street, passing The First In Last Out, 14-15 Hugh Street (FILO - website) before reaching...

The Jenny Lind Inn, 69 High Street (website), where by now participants will need a rest, and a few ales, with about a 45 minutes break at 11.30-ish. Following the break the procession then continues down and turns right to head up Swan Terrace, passing by St Clements church (blog) on the right, and then up Croft Road, heading for the top of the West Hill. Once there, partying continues, music, food and drink (bar run by the FILO), craft wares, including the event T-shirt, and, by now, necessary facilities for those who have already been drinking, phew!

By now you may have realised, not only did I not carry on up the hill yesterday, but that I'd actually been heading in the opposite direction all the time, whilst taking my photographs. I'd decided to have a couple of drinks out of a Hastings Old Town Cup (blog), just to provide you with a relevant image. The things I do for research. 😉

Oh yes, there was dancing around the old town and at the Stade, as I suggested (blog), for example at Winkle Island yesterday (website), above image. And similar today, also drums, and much more happening too (website).

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, and tomorrow's procession folks, which will look something like the photograph above! 👍