Celebrate the coming of Spring in our village tradition
On the first Saturday of May, the village of Lustleigh celebrates May Day, with traditional celebrations, just as we have since 1905.
Saturday 3 May 2025, from 12pm
Join the crowning of the May Queen
We have been celebrating May Day in the traditional way since 1905. Each year, one girl from the village is crowned as the Lustleigh May Queen, and her name is carved into the solid granite rock in the village Orchard.
Maypole Dancing
The children of the village practice hard to deliver traditional dances around our maypole in celebration of the May Queen’s crowning. A traditional spectacle full of colour and joy.
Traditional games and stalls
From Hoopla to ‘splat the rat’ and lucky dip, there is a whole range of traditional entertainments for children and adults alike
Folk Performances
We are joined by the amazing Grimspound Border Morris dancers, who provide their amazing folk entertainment. There are also
May Day parade
The band and the children parade around the village from 2pm, before arriving back at the church around 2.45pm
A Celebration of Springtime
Lustleigh is a historic village, frequently named as one of the country’s best and prettiest villages, with thatched cottages and granite houses.
We hold our celebration in the village Orchard, which is a public park, and perfect to come and relax in.
All the details
We are delighted if you’d like to join us for our May Day celebrations.
Admission is FREE.
Where we are
The celebration takes place in Lustleigh, Devon.
The main activities take place in the Town Orchard, our public park, next to the Lustleigh Village Hall. There is no parking available at the village hall during the event. There will also be activities outside the Church of St John the Baptist.
To find the main site, on What3words – ///projects.treaty.vanished
Driving and parking
If you are driving, take the A382 road between Bovey Tracey and Moretonhampstead, and follow signs to Lustleigh.
For satnav, use the postcode TQ13 9TW to reach our car park. What3Words – ///leans.delighted.trip
Car parking costs £5 per car.
The car parking field is around 10 minutes walk from the village centre where all the activities take place.
Disabled visitors
There is a limited amount of disabled parking available in the village centre.
Use postcode TQ13 9TJ in your satnav to reach disabled parking. What3Words – ///gala.baker.bedrock
The Orchard is uneven grass parkland, but we do have a priority seating area for people with limited mobility.
When to arrive
We recommend that if you want to attend that you arrive no later than 1.30pm as this will allow you time to park and walk to the village centre.
If you arrive after 2pm, the parade will have started, and access may be restricted.
Walk or cycle
The Wray Valley trail is a walking and cycling path from Bovey Tracey to Moretonhampstead, and we are about 2.5 miles from both.
Facilities
Public toilets are available in the village centre, as well as toilets in the village hall which will be open.
First aid will be available – ask any steward
Food and drink
We will be selling cream teas, cakes, and drinks from the village hall.
The village shop, The Dairy, will be open and selling cold drinks, ice cream, and their full range of goods.
The Cleave Inn, our village pub, will also be open for drinks. You are advised to book in advance for food.
The Primrose Tea Rooms will be open for cream teas, cakes, and sandwiches.
Schedule
| 12pm | Car park opens. Local pub, shop, and tea room all open for business. |
| 1pm | Official start of May Day – stalls and cream teas open |
| 1pm | Morris dancing outside the church |
| 2pm | Mayday parade begins outside the village hall. You can watch as they go past, and follow round as the children slowly walk for about 40 minutes around the village |
| 2.10pm | Morris dancers perform outside the church |
| 2.45pm | The parade arrives back in the village centre, and a blessing takes place on the church steps |
| 3pm | The parade reaches the Orchard, and Maypole dancing starts, followed by the crowning of the May Queen |
| 3.30pm | Duck races in the Orchard leat |
| 4pm | Raffle draw, outside the village hall |
| 5pm | Event closes |
Celebrate Spring at Lustleigh Mayday
Discover snapshots of Lustleigh’s charm, capturing the spirit of our Mayday festivities.
History
May Day is one of the oldest known celebrations, as people celebrate the coming of spring.
Our version was resurrected by author and village resident Cecil Torr in 1905, and ever since (except in World War II), the children of the village have celebrated this tradition in the same way.
Each year, the May Queen has her name carved into the granite rock, making a permanent mark on the history of the village. The original May Day rock is located at the other end of the village, and the current rock was started in 1945, after World War II.
The children of the village aged 5-15 take part, and celebrate in the same way as they have for 120 years.
Celebrate Spring in Lustleigh
Join us to experience the charm of Lustleigh Mayday and be part of our vibrant tradition.