The Dartmoor village of Lustleigh in Devon announces the return of the annual tradition of May Day on Saturday 3rd May.
2025 is the 125th anniversary of this quintessentially British celebration which – falling between the spring equinox and summer solstice – marks the beginning of summer. May Day is also known as Beltane, an important seasonal festival that celebrates nature’s bounty and abundance, the creative energies of the earth and the cycle of life.
Lustleigh May Day proceedings kick off with the children of Lustleigh accompanying the May Queen around the village to traditional song, folk music, a welcome from the Town Crier and a blessing from the Rector, before returning to The Orchard for thecrowning of the May Queen and maypole dancing. An afternoon of morris dancing, local bands, old-fashioned fairground stalls, face painting and cream teas follows.
Lustleigh – dubbed the prettiest village on Dartmoor – has celebrated the tradition of a May Day since 1905, when it was revived by noted antiquarian Cecil Torr. Probably the most famous iteration of the UK’s May Day events, Lustleigh May Day draws crowds from far and wide, all eager to see the crowning of a May Queen: resplendent on her throne, surrounded by a canopy of village flowers on the beautiful granite May Day rock. This rock bears the names of all the May Queens who have come before, some of whom now organise this much-loved event with a new generation of their own children dancing around the maypole.
This year’s May Queen – who will also have her name forever engraved on this impressive rock – will be Eve Whitehead. Eve has danced around the maypole since she was three years old, commenting: “Back in 2013, I was so excited to join my older siblings in this magical village tradition. All of us children in the village really look forward to May Day – not just the day itself but the sunny evenings spent in The Orchard practicing our dances and having fun. May Day really brings the village together and I am thrilled to be this year’s May Queen.”
Commenting further, Chairman of the Lustleigh May Day Committee, Harriet Knowles adds: “It is such a privilege to continue the great tradition of May Day, and we as a village really look forward to welcoming visitors to an annual celebration that is very close to our hearts.
As a former May Queen and part of a large family who all loved the shared comradery and excitement of May Day, I feel so proud to be part of its future. In an age in which the simple joys of childhood can be so easily eclipsed by technology and the relentless pace of modern family life, May Day is a moment to take stock of what matters.
Thank you so much to all the wonderful children – and their parents – who work so hard to make May Day such a success.”
Lustleigh May Day starts at 1pm on Saturday 3rd May.
It is free to attend, although there is a £5 parking charge.
The Wray Valley Trail offers excellent walking/cycling access from Bovey Tracey or Moretonhampstead.
For more information please visit lustleighmayday.com
You can join us on our social media pages, follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Threads where you can keep up to date with whats going on in South Devon.
Got a news story, blog or press release that you’d like to share or want to advertise with us? Get in touch via email admin@wearesouthdevon.com
