Exhibition
The Jack In The Green Exhibition
Now in its sixth fabulous year, the Jack In the Green Exhibition is an exciting taste of the weekend's festivities, providing a cultural and historic reference point for the event. Crammed full of vivid images, giants and costumes all framed by luscious greenery, it is easy to feel immersed in the magic of Jack In The Green.
History House, Courthouse Street, Hastings Old Town
Opening 2nd May to 12th May from 11am-4pm Thursday - Sunday
Wednesday 1st May
Dance in the Dawn, 4:30pm
Celebrate the start of Spring by dancing in the dawn with local Morris sides.
Ladies Parlour, West Hill
Friday 3rd May
Jiggery Pokery, 8:00pm
The festival opens with a local band who offer a potpourri of delights for all tastes.
Jiggery Pokery's continually expanding repertoire reflects their diverse musical backgrounds to bring together a mix of classical to jazz, blues, folk, country and anything in between.
St. Mary In The Castle, Pelham Place
Doors open at 7:30pm for 8:00pm.
Admission £5.00 / £2.00 for children
Folk music sessions
PLUS Live music sessions in the Old Town at various local hostelries. Why not try The Stag in All Saints Street or The Jenny Lind and The First In Last Out, both in the High Street. There's sure to be something for everyone, just take your pick!
Saturday 4th May
Morris Dancing around the Town, 12:00pm
Morris dancers will be performing far and wide, including our host sides, Mad Jacks Morris and Hannah's Cat.
- 12:00pm - All Morris sides dancing at Winkle Island
- 1:00pm - Morris sides split off to dance in different locations around town
- 1:45pm - Hannahs Cat at the Blue Reef aquarium
- 1:45pm - Mad Jacks at Butlers Gap on George Street
- 2:30pm - Hannahs Cat and Mad Jacks at Butlers Gap on George Street
- 3:15pm - Hannahs Cat on the seafront by the trampolines
- 3:15pm - Mad Jacks at the Blue Reef aquarium
- 4:00pm - All sides at The Stade open space for the finale
Hastings old town
Dancing from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.
Rattlebag, 2:00pm
Come and join in the Song Session led by the talented female harmony group Rattlebag.
The Stag, All Saints Street
From 2:00pm until 5:00pm.
Admission is free.
www.rattlebag.co.uk
The Big Saturday Night Ceilidh with The Sugar Loaf Band, 8:00pm
This year the Saturday Night Ceilidh features The Sugar Loaf Band.
They are an 8 piece Hastings band playing fiddle, melodeon, concertina, recorder, whistle, guitar, bass guitar and trombone. Every member of Sugarloaf has been both a musician and a dancer, hardly surprising, then, that their tight, rhythmic interpretation of mainly English traditional music and locally sourced dance tunes is a joy to dance to. They have been playing for ceilidhs/barndances for 5 years with caller, Keith Leech.
St. Mary In The Castle, Pelham Place
Doors open at 7:30pm for 8:00pm.
Admission £9.00 / £4.00 for children
www.sugarloafband.co.uk
Sunday 5th May
Festival Celebration Church Service, 10:00am
All are welcome at this special family communion with Morris dancing and Morris musicians, which will be held at Saint Clements Church.
The service will be followed by Morris dancing outside the church.
Saint Clements Church, High Street, Hastings old town
Service starts at 10:00am.
Dancing outside the church from 11:15am.
Morris Dancing around the Town, 11:15am
Morris dancers led by our host sides, Mad Jacks Morris and Hannah's Cat will again be performing for your entertainment far and wide, .
- 11:15am - Dancing outside Saint Clements Church
- 12:00pm - Mad Jacks at Butlers Gap on George Street
- 2:00pm until 2:45pm - Mad Jacks on the seafront by the trampolines
- 2:00pm until 4:00pm - Hannahs Cat at the May Queen celebrations in Alexandra Park
Hastings old town and Alexandra Park
Dancing from 11:15am to 4:00pm.
The Crowning of the Queen of May, 2:00pm
One of the most iconic May day activities, the Crowning of the May Queen, will take place in its original location at the bandstand in Alexandria Park.
- 2:00pm - Procession from the main park gates (town end) to the bandstand
- 2:30pm - Crowning of the May Queen
- 2:45pm - Children's Garland Competition
- 3:00pm - Morris dancing display by Hannah's Cat
- 4:00pm - the May Queen celebration come to a close
The garland competition was the most widespread May Day activity in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Individual and school/groups are invited to take part in the competition. For an information pack or how to get involved visit the website or contact Bryony Leech at bryonyis@hotmail.com
Alexandra Park bandstand
Starts at 2:00pm.
The Drum Off, 4:00pm
Section 5 Drummers lead the thunderous drumming, accompanied by the infectious beat of Sambalanco and other friends.
This is a popular event so please make room for children and other spectators and please don't push forwards to try to see the drummers - have no fear, you WILL hear them!
Butlers Gap, George Street
Drumming starts at 4:00pm
Admission free.
The Copper Family of Rottingdean, 4:00pm
Performing for their ninth consecutive year, The Copper family are a Jack in the Green favourite. Listening to the traditional Sussex songs sung by this outstanding singing family is a real treat.
St. Mary In The Castle, Pelham Place
Doors open at 3:30pm for 4:00pm
Admission £5.00
www.thecopperfamily.com
Zephyrus, 8:00pm
Held in the atmospheric All Saints Church, Zephyrus, the English bagpipe orchestra, play a spectacular concert of English and French bagpipe music. An experience not to be missed.
All Saints Church, All Saints Street, Hastings Old Town
Doors open at 7:30pm for 8:00pm.
Admission £9.00 / £4.00 for children
www.zephyrusmusic.co.uk
Ceilidh with Panjandrum, 8:00pm
Panjandrum are a top English ceilidh band, influenced by music from all round the world. With caller Gordon Potts, you won't be able to stop dancing to this high energy band.
St. Mary In The Castle, Pelham Place
Doors open at 7:30pm for 8:00pm.
Admission £9.00 / £4.00 for children
www.panjandrumband.co.uk
The Big Squeeze, 8:00pm
Bring your instruments or relax and listen to the traditional English music session upstairs at the Cinque Ports pub led by squeeze box players Alan, Goose and Trooper
Cinque Ports pub, All Saints Street
From 8:00pm until 10:30pm.
Admission is free
Monday 6th of May
The Grand Procession, in order of appearance..
- Jack, The Bogies and Black Sal,
- Mad Jack's Morris,
- The Sweeps,
- The May Queen,
- Hannah's Cat,
- The Lovely Ladies,
- The Gay Bogies,
- Section Five,
- The Hastings Giant,
- Morris sides and Giants,
- Dende Nation,
- Green Participants,
- Sambalanco.
* 2013 Procession Route
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 would like to request performers to not access George Street to dance on Monday the 6th of May.
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 7:00am until 9:00am
The Gathering, 9:45am
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, 10:15am
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, 11:15am
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
At 11:45am the procession reforms and sets off again at 12:00pm, 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
The Fabulous Red Diesel band will keep you entertained on the stage of the new West Hill festival site until the procession arrives.
Admission is free and all are welcome.
Festival site, Priory Road,
West Hill, Hastings
Procession arrives on the West Hill, 12:30pm
The Jack arrives at the festival site on the West Hill where the Bogies drum the procession in.
Morris Dancing on the West Hill, 12:45pm
Enjoy the afternoon as each Morris side showcases their dances. 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.
The Slaying of the Jack, approx. 3:30pm
After the dancing, the Bogies parade the Jack down to the stage where he is symbolically slain and the Spirit of Summer is released for another year.
The End, 4:30pm
The bar will close. Thank you and see you next year.