Wassail Festival – NEW DATE

NEW DATE – SUNDAY MAY 5

Join us for our Annual Wassail Festival to celebrate the start of Blossom Season.

Wassailing is an English tradition dating back hundreds of years. We Wassail as a way to give thanks to the orchard in hopes it blesses us with a bountiful crop in the coming year.

In ancient times, villagers would dress up in colourful hats and cloaks decorated with feathers and noise makers. They would lead a procession into the orchard to hang cider-soaked bread on the branches of the apple trees as an offer for a good harvest. The tattered band of colourful merrymakers would make noise and sing songs to scare off any malevolent spirits. Of course, they would finish the parade with a delicious mug of cider and shout “wassil” or “good health!”

To learn more about “Why we Wassail”, visit our Behind the Apple Blog.

Join Spirit Tree in our annual Wassail tradition.

Here’s is What’s Happening:

Performances from the Orange Peel Morris Dancers at 11am and 2pm:

• They will be performing the traditional Wassail song and dance and lead a procession into the orchard to bless the trees

Enjoy a tour of Cidery and learn more about Wassailing and the history of cider at 12pm:

• Tickets can be purchased here.

Craft table for kids:

• kids can make their own noisemakers to take into the apple orchard

Bistro will be open for lunch:

• It is recommended to make a reservation. Book here.