Excitement mounts as Royal Knutsford May Day Festival returns

The annual event returns on Saturday, May 7, after being cancelled for the past two years due to Covid-19.

Hailed as the highlight of the town's calendar, around 600 children dress up in colourful costumes to take part in the pageant, the only one of its kind in the country.

The procession and crowning of the May Queen was started in 1864 by the vicar of Knutsford, Rev Robert Clowes.

Eileen Podmore, secretary of the Knutsford Royal May Day Festival, said: "We were given a royal charter in 1887 which makes us special.

"It is the only royal May Day in the country and the only one in the world that I know of."

 

The royal prefix was bestowed on the event in 1887 by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, when they visited Lord Egerton at Tatton as Prince and Princess of Wales.

"It is something the town should be proud of," said mum-of-two Eileen, who has been involved in the festival for 44 years.

"It is not a carnival, it is a big celebration that is very community based.

"Parents and grandparents turn out to watch children. It's a tradition. Lots of Knutsford families have taken part for generations."

The May Queen and her court, chosen two years ago, will finally play their roles but pose a practical challenge for seamstresses as they will have all grown in size.

 

"Our ladies will find ingenious ways of making sure the children can get into their clothes," said Eileen.

"We will have some new costumes but we've had many of them since I was a child."

Any local children wishing to be characters can come to a selection day at St John's Church on Saturday, March 5.

Henry VIII and Florence Nightingale are among historical figures taking part.

 

"We bring books to life," said Eileen. "You name it we've got it, clowns, animals and nursery rhymes.

"The children are always happy and just enjoy being with their friends."

The search is now on to find more volunteers to help.

"We need people to learn the process all the way through and see how everything works," said Eileen.

"It's a chance to put something back into the community."

To get involved email Eileen at ee.podmore@ntlworld.com.