May Day was always the most popular festival of the year - time to welcome in the better weather and celebrate. Step back into history and enjoy our event as we choose a may queen and prepare the may tree. Garlanding, processions and traditional entertainments, all accompanied by authentic, live music - it all happens right in front of you!
Everything takes place against the background of everyday Tudor life as about 100 of our skilled Living Historians present daily life in the year 1600: workers, villagers, cooks and craft persons are all going about their everyday business, while the Mummers and Players entertain us all.
There are also over thirty acres of gardens, woodland and farm to explore - abundant and alive with spring bulbs and blossom everywhere and on the farm, you can see this year's lambs in the paddocks.
All activities continue whatever the weather - there is lots to see and do.
An active, outdoor day out for explorers of all ages - a breath of fresh air for everyone!
Spring is a lovely time to visit Kentwell's Gardens - charming as their winter starkness is banished by emerging springtime shoots. Winter-scented plants such as mahonia, sarcococca and hellebore add scent and softness to the stunning backdrop of sculptural topiary and specimen trees. The gardens come back to life with primroses and violets leading the way. We will have swathes of daffodils, cowslips and primroses, with bugle, violets and forget-me-nots adding even more colour. Tree blossom begins to show, notably on the may, and on the ancient fruit trees in the Walled Garden. Grape hyacinths and tulips soak up the sunshine along the moat walls and the fernery has delicate wood anemones adding highlights to the shady calm. The trees are all coming into leaf and a thousand shades of green rule the landscape.
Come out for a breath of fresh air around our gardens, farm and woodland trails.
We recommend you dress for the weather - our pathways can become little muddy after prolonged rainy periods. However, this is great news for our younger visitors, as it means there are puddles galore!
Please pre-book your visit (any time up to 10.30am on the day of your visit), so we can monitor numbers expected on site. Also, if you pre-book, you get a discount of £2 per ticket! Please arrive in good time to get the most out of your visit. You are welcome to arrive at any time from opening time until our last entry at 2.00pm. The event will close at 5pm. If you are Season Ticket holders, or Historic Houses members, please also book your tickets on-line.
Event organiser is Kentwell Hall.
Disclaimer: All information was correct when the listing was prepared. Any questions about the event should be directed to the event organiser.