May Morning in Oxford’s historic centre is a traditional celebration of the coming of Spring with dancing, singing and revelry of many different types – some going back into history and some with a more modern character.
Celebrations start at 6am with the Magdalen College choir singing Hymnus Eucharisticus from the Great Tower. Hymnus Eucharisticus was composed in the 17th century by a Fellow of Magdalen and has been sung every year from the Great Tower on May Morning at this early hour as the sun comes up.
This year Magdalen Bridge will be open to pedestrians and closed to traffic from 3.30am until 9am to enable everyone to enjoy the singing in comfort and safety. The bridge will re-open to traffic as soon as it is safe to do so between 8.30am and 9am.
There will also be May Morning events and activities taking place across the city including Morris Men dancing in Radcliffe Square, Catte Street and Broad Street.
Many bars and restaurants across the city will open for breakfasts including eateries in the city centre, Jericho and East Oxford.
Cafes that will be open for breakfast include, Rose Café, The Grand Café, Quod, Oxford Rendezvous, QL Sandwich Bar and Queen’s Lane Coffee House all in the High Street.
Café Coco in Cowley Road and G&D’s in St Aldates will also be open for breakfast as will the Turl Street Kitchen in Turl Street, The Buttery in Broad Street, Tick Tock, Cowley Road, The Nosebag,
Pubs that will be celebrating May Morning include The Bear, Turf Tavern, The King’s Arms, The White Horse, Port Mahon, Cape of Good Hope, and Angel and Greyhound.
Bars that will be opening include the Kazbar on the Cowley Road and All Bar One on the High Street.
The Story Museum will also be open from 9am on May Morning serving refreshments to celebrate the opening day of their new exhibition Other Worlds, which runs until May 27.
Artists and writers will be taking over the building with a collection of strange, surreal and intriguing new stories, which visitors will be able to immerse themselves in as they wander through dusty corridors and empty spaces.
Other Worlds will transform the home of the future Story Museum (still in its dilapidated state but due to open in 2014) into a giant compendium of stories.
More than 25 collaborations between writers and visual artists from all disciplines will be turning words into worlds; artist Anita Klein has created an angelic presence in the entranceway; a periscope will be disappearing up into an attic and lost objects are starting to turn up in mysterious places; a forest of strange towers will be making its way to The Story Museum; children’s illustrator Korky Paul is dallying with a dinosaur; and words are cooking up a storm in Room 28.
Other Worlds participants have all donated their time and support to make room for stories because they have all been inspired by The Story Museum and its vision.
Entry is £3 per person (under 2’s go free). Full opening times and information here
The Magdalen choir will be singing at a Eucharist held in the College Chapel at 9.15am, which anyone can attend.
The Truck Store on the Cowley Road will be open from 6.30am and will have three local bands playing.
For more information about events and activities happening in Oxford on May Morning visit Daily Info’s website
