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Hastings May Queen

Alexandra Park bandstand, St Helen's Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 2LQ

A May Queen procession with a child holding a banner and a chimney sweep at the front.

About

The History

“In 1934, Miss Dorothy Catt, a Speech and Drama school proprietor, asked Hastings Council if she could produce a Pageant of dance and music which would include the Crowning of a Hastings May Queen. The Entertainments Manager of the time … responded enthusiastically and agreed to promote the event”

- Excerpt from Crowns & Shillings, The Story of the Hastings’ May Queen Pageants 1934-2015, by Barry and Helen Jones.

Hastings has held a May Queen celebration every year since 1934. It is the second-longest running active May Queen event in England! The beautiful setting of Alexandra Park is where we celebrate, and despite other venues being used over the years, including Hastings Castle and Linton Gardens, the event has kept returning to the park with Queens being crowned there during the 30s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, and currently since 2014.

The Event

Join us in saying farewell to winter and hello to summer! Our afternoon of festivities is joyful and varied. There is live music on the bandstand, our wonderful Maypole Dancers weaving plaits up and down the maypole, displays from other local dance groups, face painting, Punch and Judy, plants from the park greenhouse, the garland competition and altogether we celebrate the return of warmer times and the lush regrowth of nature.

For information about Hastings Maypole Dancers, the Garland Competition or any general enquiries, please contact Holly Sheldrake hollysheldrake[at]btinternet.com , and please see our Facebook page for more regular updates.