Wakefield Morris Diary 2025/26

So 2025 and the world of traditional dance continues to educate, entertain and inform the good folk of Britain that yes we do have a history and it's great fun. I've been busy and never quite kept in the loop so this a retrospective on 2025 plus look ahead to 2026!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2025 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Saturday 26th April St Georges Day Kelham Island, Sheffield.
Saturday 3rd May Gawthorpe May Day parade. As an aside the traditional coal carrying race was started, so some say, to raise funds for the May Day gala and Maypole event. The story goes that two chaps at the Beehive pub were having a bit of banter about who could carry a sack of coal from the vilage boundary to the pub the fastest. The tradition was born and continues as does the Mayday event. The pub however is long gone.
Friday 9th to Sunday 11th May Weekend with Five Rivers Morris,Bamford, Derbyshire.
Tuesday 20th May Evening dance out with Wayzgoose at the Hare and Hounds, Rothwell
Friday 30th May to Sunday 1st June Ossett Beercart. Now a very definite tradition and continues with sides coming from the length and breadth of England, well Yorkshire at least
Saturday 26th July Bonsall Carnival Bonsall.
Saturday 16th to Tuesday 19th August Whitby Folk Week. Festivals come and go but Whitby stays strong and true. The teams involvement goes back over 40 years.
Saturday 27th September Morris Federation 50th Anniversary, Sheffield. The president of the Morris Federation, Pauline Woods-Wilson, was being awarded an EFDSS Gold Medal at this event. Nice to think that at one time Pauline was a member of the Wakefield team. The team also have ex-president Trefor Owen and ex-Newsletter editor Doug Bradshaw in the roll of Federation officers. What of the future?
Friday 25th December Boxing day at the Kings Arms Heath Common. Cracking clear day, cold but fine. Great crowd and some great dancing. One dance was performed by a side made up of teenagers, a really great prospect for the teams future. But importantly it's a family side, with :
One Mum and dad plus son and granddaughter
One dad plus daughter, 3 nieces and one brother-in-law.
One mum, one son, one daughter-in-law, one granddaughter
One mum and dad plus one son and one daughter
In the crowd good to meet up with Dave Johnson, a founder member of the team, and his daughter, also Sue Mawby, Ruth Flint with family, and Garry and Caroline Stead. The band found Chris Walker sitting in, not in the best of health but daughetr Sally supporting him and doing her best to keep Chris in contact with the friends from his long time support of dance side(s).
So onward to 2026 then!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2026 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

January || February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December


****** JANUARY ******

****** FEBRUARY ******
Sunday 22nd February Rhubarb Festival Wakefield City Centre with Wayzgoose and Ramshackle Morris.
Saturday 28th February in York for IVFDF - Intervarsity Folk Dance Festival.

****** MARCH ******

****** APRIL ******
Saturday 18th With Cutlers Gate at Kelham Island Sheffield. Cutlers Gate will be hosting the 4th St George's Dayish Dance Out around Kelham Island again.We will be joined by Handsworth Sword Dancers, Five Rivers Morris Wakefield Morris and Ramshackle Morris.

****** MAY ******
Tuesday 19th May Dance out with Wayzgoose 7.30 pm at The Hare and Hounds Rothwell. This one got rained off! Then the heat spike arrived. Climate warming is FAKE NEWS in the opinion POTUS. I beg to differ.

****** JUNE ******
Friday 5th The Beercart participants assemble. This may involve beer.
Saturday 6th The dancing element, involving the cart(s), that's a big one and a little one, dance display and possibly more beer.
Sunday 7th June 11.00 am dancing at Cannon Hall (as part of Beer Festival).
Monday 22nd June 7.30 pm with White Rose Morris men at The Blacksmith's Arms, Kirkheaton.
Friday 26th to Sunday 28th June weekend with Queens Oak and Rose and Castle in Towcester.

****** JULY ******
Tuesday 7th July 7.30 pm with Pecsaetan at The George, Upper Denby.
Monday 13th July 7.30 pm with Leeds Morris men at The Kings Arms, Heath Common.

****** AUGUST ******
28th to 31st August Shrewsbury Folk Festival. This a first for the Wakefield team. It was always an either/or with Whitby Folk Week and Yorkshire was would be the first choice. But Shrewsbury has grown and grown to be plain irrestible!

****** SEPTEMBER ******
Saturday 5th September at Lincoln BIG Morris in Lincoln.

****** OCTOBER ******

****** NOVEMBER ******

****** DECEMBER ******
26th Boxing Day at the Kings Arms, Heath Common. 12.30 pm. The one event I can predict come hell, high water, ice , snow or even an act of God will always see a team dancing. Hopefully that team will be Wakefield Morris. Timings and date are traditional, check back to the Facebook entry for any changes!

Back to Home Page  2001  2024 The editor of this website is in the process of moving, hopefully and continues to maintain the long established website as a memory bank.
For latest information on bookings use the links provided here the teams Facebook page. or another website.