The Tradfolk Wassail Directory, 2024-25

Welcome to the Tradfolk Wassail Directory, 2024-25. Please note that we’re in the process of adding this season’s wassails as we speak, so it may or may not look very complete, depending on when you’re viewing it. If you have a wassail you’d like to add, please check the FAQs below to find out how.

We launched this page during the winter of 2022 and the attention it drew was amazing, demonstrating to us that the wassailing tradition is not only alive and well, but also blossoming once again. We started by wondering why Google wasn’t able to deal the question, “where to wassail near me?”, and we’re pleased to say that now – thanks to this page – it has all the answers. We hope to keep it as up-to-date and useful as possible, so make sure you share it with any wassail organisers you know of.

Where to wassail near me?

Apple wassailing was traditionally held in cider-making communities, so you’re more likely to find wassails in the West Country, or in the Welsh border counties. That said, it appears to be a popular tradition that increasing numbers are returning to, and – like many great traditions – is spreading across England at quite a pace.

In creating this directory of wassails, many of the organisers were first-timers, suggesting that this tradition increasingly holds meaning for many people who may be coming to it anew. People seem to be keen to connect to the land in a way that we’ve perhaps not seen for some time. Whatever the reason, it’s certainly nice to be involved in something that is non-digital, allowing the participants to look up, gaze around them, and really notice the wheel of the year.

Obviously, if you’re travelling long distances for your wassail, it’s best to contact the organisers beforehand to see if it is still going ahead. However, at the time of writing, the nearest wassail to you may well be at one of the following places…

Your wassailing questions answered

When is wassailing celebrated?

Traditionally, people would have gone wassailing on the Twelfth Night (January 5th) or Old Twelvey (January 17th). These days, most wassails take place after the New Year, stretching from January through to March, and can be seen as a way of introducing a little post-Christmas communal magic in the dark and gloomy days before the sun returns.

How to pronounce wassailing?

‘Wassailing’ or ‘wassail’ is pronounced with an emphasis on the ‘sail’ part of the word. A phonetic way of writing it out would be ‘woh-say-luhng’. It can be heard clearly in many of the wassailing songs in the English tradition. “Wassail, wassail all over the town, my toast it is white and my ale it is brown.”

What does wassailing mean?

The word “wassail” comes from the Middle English toast, “waes hael”, meaning “be thou hale”, which in turn means “be in good health”. The phrase, “waes hael” dates back to pre-Norman times, so if you do decide to get outside and try a quick wassail, you’ll be following a time-honoured tradition. If someone says “waes hael” to you, the appropriate response is to “drinc hael”, or drink their good health.

How do I add my wassail to this list?

If you’ve spotted a wassail in the wild and you think it needs adding to the Tradfolk Wassail Directory, click this link and fill in the form. We’ll add it as soon as we can, but it’s a manual process so please be patient if your wassail hasn’t appeared on the list yet! Please provide as much info as possible too, which speeds up the process.

Listen to the brilliant Old Songs Podcast about wassailing songs here…

UK

• Bedfordshire
• Berkshire
• Buckinghamshire
• Cambridgeshire
• Cheshire
• Cornwall
• County Durham
• Derbyshire
• Devon
• Dorset
• East Sussex
• Essex
• Greater Manchester
• Hampshire
• Herefordshire
• Hertfordshire
• Kent
• Lincolnshire
• London
• Leicestershire
• Merseyside
• Oxfordshire
• Rutland
• Somerset
• Suffolk
• Wales
• West Sussex
• Wiltshire
• Worcestershire
• Yorkshire

USA

• Washington

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UK

Bedfordshire

Dunton Wassail

Church Farm, Dunton, Biggleswade
Jan 4th, 2025
6.30pm onwards

A wonderful community wassail! A cornucopia of morris dancing from Letchworth Morris, Bedford Morris, and Hicca Hoodlums. There will be liquid refreshment from the March Hare Brewpub, soup and sausages from The Dunton Community Garden and mulled apple juice from the Potton Community Orchard. The evening culminates in the processional Abbots Bromley Horn Dance into the orchard where cider soaked toast is hung in the trees and wassailing songs are sung. Those of a musical nature (and some of a not so musical nature!) then retire to The March Hare pub for a traditional music session. Click here for more information.

Berkshire

Traditional Orchard Wassail

Lilly Hill Park, Bracknell
Jan 11th, 2025
5:30pm-7pm

OBJ Morris Dancers are back in 2025 to banish the evil spirits and awaken the sleeping apple trees. The ceremony will be conducted by firelight, and you are encouraged to bring your own cider or apple juice so that you can bless the trees. Take a torch and drink responsibly, won’t you? Click here for more information.

Buckinghamshire

Hedgerley Wassail

The White Horse, Hedgerley, Slough
Jan 18th, 2025
2pm onwards

Head to The White Horse to catch Datchet Morris in action at the Hedgerley Wassail. No further information currently available – check their facebook page for updates.

Cambridgeshire

Trumpington Wassail

Trumpington Community Orchard
Cambridge
Jan 12th, 2025
2.30pm onwards

The community of Trumpington is once again invited to join Lord of Misrule, Nigel Pennick, to clear off the evil orchard spirits and bless the trees for the coming year. We have no further information.

Cheshire

Great Orchard Wassail

Wirral Way Car Park, Little Neston
Jan 5th, 2025
1.15pm onwards

Lees Lane Ponds Orchard has a past, before recorded Wassail history. The Green Hut is nearby – the site of Sir Gawain’s struggle with the Green Knight and follows the path of the Wise Blackbird of the Wirral in the Mabinogii. The Wassail continues from the morning’s Great Wassail at Brimstage Orchard, a few miles away. Apple Cake, hot apple juice, cider and dances along the Wirral Way, songs and stories, all readily available. Take apple cakes, if you can make them, stout shoes and ribbons in your hat, bells to ring, and pans and sticks to beat them with. Head to Brimstage first, if you will, with ribbons to tie in the trees. Click here for more information.

Cornwall

National Trust Wassail

Cotehele, Saltash
Dec 21st, 2024
11am-12:30pm

Join the team at Cotehele for their annual Wassail as they attempt to scare away the evil spirits from the Mother Orchard to ensure there is a bumper crop of apples next year. Fancy dress and noisy implements are highly encouraged, as are sensible footwear for a traipse through the orchard. Click here for more information.

Bodmin Wassail

Bodmin
Jan 6th, 2025
Afternoon onwards

Why stop at 400 years of tradition? The Bodmin Wassail returns for its 401st outing. First recorded in Bodmin in 1624, this tradition takes place all over the town and raises money for local charities. The top-hatted and tails-wearing gents will be serenading the crowds in various venues, pubs, and offices in Bodmin and wishing you all the very best of health. Click here for more information.

County Durham

Wassail the Orchards

Dalton Moor Farm, Truro Avenue, Murton, SR7 9JY
Jan 18th, 2025
2pm-5pm

If you visit Dalton Moor Farm, you’ll have a chance to weave an Ivy crown and to parade through the orchards, beating a drum, perhaps singing a song, and then hang some toast in the trees and join in the Wassail toast, with some tasty warm non-alcoholic Wassail Punch. Not only that, but it’s a double whammy with the January Wolf Moon being celebrated too. You’ll need to buy a ticket to attend this event. Click here for tickets and more information.

Derbyshire

Whaley Wassail

Whaley Bridge
Jan 18th, 2025
Time TBC

Powderkegs Morris began their wassail in 2014, and it continues past its tenth birthday. At the time of writing, not a lot of detail is available, but their website will have more when it arrives. Click here for more information.

Amber Valley Vineyards

Wessington, Alfreton
Jan 25th, 2025
4pm-7pm

It’s back – it might coincidence, the horrendous weather or because they had to cancel Wassail 2024 but Amber Valley had a much smaller crop this season. Grab one of their limited number of ticket for 2025 to make sure next year’s crop is bumper. Click here for more information and tickets.

Devon

Talaton Wassail

The Talaton Inn, Talaton
Jan 4th, 2025
5.30pm-8.30pm

Pack a torch and your drinking vessel, and be ready with your loudest noises to bless the trees and wish the village prosperity for 2025. A traditional tune and song session with Tale Valley Folk Session musicians will follow, so do take along your instrument and join in. Those wishing to eat in the pub this evening are advised to book a table in advance. Click here for more information.

Mummers Play and Wassail!

Buckland Abbey, Yelverton
Jan 5th, 2025
1pm-4pm

Join Dartmoor Border Morris to scare away evil spirits in the Buckland Abbey orchard and ensure a good harvest this year – remember your pots and pans to make lots of noise. The event starts with a Mummer’s play in the Great Barn, and will then process to the orchard for the Wassail itself, so make sure you wrap up warm and put on some very sturdy footwear. The event is free and doesn’t require a booking, but don’t forget that there’s an admission charge for the site if you’re not already a National Trust member. Click here for more information.

Blockhouse Family Wassail

Stoke Youth & Community Centre, Blockhouse Park, Plymouth
Jan 11th, 2025
1pm-3pm

Head into the fresh air, to make some noise to wake up and bless the apple trees in Blockhouse Park with a hullabaloo! The Blockhouse Family Wassail is open to all who would like to join this fun, noisy and increasingly popular, winter tradition. Expect some dressing up, apple-themed activities, and singing.  Click here for more information and to book a free ticket.

Wassail and Family Ceilidh

The Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Devonport Park, Plymouth
Jan 11th, 2025
5.30pm onwards

Dress up as tree sprites, faeries and elves (optional for parents!), join Jack Frost and help to wake up the apple trees in The Spellbound Wood. Then head back to The Soapbox for an evening of dancing with Freedom Fields ceilidh band. Bring pots, pans and musical instruments to wake up the apple trees and the trees in the Spellbound Wood. Click here for more information and tickets.

Stoke Gabriel Wassail

Near Totnes
Jan 18th, 2025
4pm-10pm

Visit Stoke Gabriel, a small village on the River Dart, if you’d like to watch Beltane Border Morris do their thing, be entertained by Eric the Jester, or if you fancy a Torchlight Procession, not one but two excellent pubs, plus the almost obligatory shotgun blasts to scare away evil spirits. Of course, there’ll also be the traditional wassailing of the trees in the village orchard to make sure they bear plenty of fruit this year. You can get tickets on the gate. Click here for more information.

Dorset

Bridport Community Orchard

St Mary’s Church Field, Bridport
Jan 12th, 2025
2pm-3.30pm

You are all invited to the blessing of the trees, so bring your noisiest noise makers and wrap up warm to prepare for warding off the evil spirits! There’ll be music, cider, hot apple juice and cake. Click here for more information.

Dorest Nectar Cider Wassail

Pineapple Lane, Waytown
Jan 25th, 2025
3pm-9pm

Who fancies fun for all the family? Then roll up for wassail songs, a Mummers Play, Morris dancing, hot food, super local cider and mulled cider, apple juice and wood fires. Click here for more information.

East Sussex

Rattlebag Stag Wassail

The Stag Inn, Hastings
Jan 4th, 2025
8pm onwards

Join Rattlebag and friends at the old and cosy Stag Inn for an evening of Twelfth Night Revelry and Wassailing. Dress up and join the Court of Misrule as a new King and Queen are crowned. Pack your noise-makers to scare harmful spirits away from the old apple tree (kazoos acceptable). Inside there will be a folk music session round the pub table. Click here for more information.

Twelfth Night Tudor Wassail

Michelham Priory House & Gardens, Hailsham
Jan 25th, 2025
2.45pm-5pm – Family Wassail
6pm-9pm – Adults-only Wassail

Join experts in the tradition plus Mythago morris dancers, Rattlebag, Gallyard Tudor Dancers, and Pentacle Drummers for a magical event of dancing, drumming, fire and feasting to bless the trees. Sussex Past says “Bring along a musical instrument, decorate yourself in foliage and feathers and join the torchlit procession to wake the apple trees from their slumber, scare away evil spirits and celebrate winter like the Tudors did.” Hot and cold refreshments will be available at both wassails, with alcohol served only in the evening. You will need a ticket to attend, and these must be purchased in advance. Click here for tickets and more information.

Bignose and Beardy Wassail

The Cidery, Upper Brookhouse, Framfield
Jan 18th, 2025
4pm-7pm

So much to taste, test and try out at this wassail, and something for all the family (except four-legged friends). They need your help to bless the orchard and chase out evil spirits, via the mediums of cider and brandy tasting, apple olympics, a treasure hunt, clay pot and bread making, plus singing and storytelling. There’ll be food and drink on sale, plus local products to take home. Dress warmly for the weather and bring a musical instrument to bang blow or strum. You’ll need to make some noise! Click here for tickets and more information.

Essex

Wassail Winter Festival

Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens
Dec 14th, 2024
3.30pm-5pm

Join Matipo Arts in Harlow Museum’s beautiful walled gardens for a winter festival with a twist. Browse artisan makers and community stalls, grab a hot bite to eat, and get stuck in with activities, performances and wassailing traditions for the whole family. The event is free to attend, with ticketed performances and donation-based craft activities. Click here for more information.

Wassailing at Waltham Abbey Gardens

Waltham Abbey
Jan 11th, 2025
3:30pm onwards

Enjoy bonfires, morris dancing, traditional village fete games and a range of food and drinks (including Mulled Cider) to buy. Head out with your pots, pans, whistles; anything to make a racket to drive bad spirits away from the trees as the heritage orchard is blessed. This year, there’s a Best Decorated Hat Competition! Don your best decorated hat and you could be in with a chance to win a goodie bag! Judging at 17:10 before the blessing at 17:15. Click here for more information.

Trust Links Wassail

St Laurence Orchard, Southend-on-Sea
Jan 19th, 2025
2pm onwards

Join the Trust Links Wassail to toast the tree, play homemade instruments and enjoy hot spiced apple juice. Click here for more information.

Greater Manchester

Winter Wassail

Marbury Road Edible Garden, North Stockport
Jan 5th, 2025
4pm-7pm

Join the Edible Garden gang for a festive gathering at their beautiful garden. Enjoy traditional wassail drinks, live music and merriment. Don’t forget to dress warmly and take along your loudest voices and any pots pans or acoustic instruments to scare away the spirits… Click here for more information and tickets.

Hampshire

Hartley Wintney Wassail

Hartley Wintney, Hook
Jan 10th, 2025
7pm onwards

The Hartley Wintney Wassail has been an annual event since 2000, when the Vaughan Millennium Orchard project was completed. Meet the Hook Eagle Morris Men at the Wagon and Horses pub before a torch-lit procession along the High Street to the Vaughan Millennium Orchard for a glass of cider or apple juice while the trees are blessed. The Hartley Wintney Wassail is a consistently popular annual event in the village, with people of all ages attending and enjoying the event! Click here for more information.

Butser Ancient Farm

Charlton Lane, Waterlooville, PO8 0BG
Jan 17th, 2025
7pm-9pm

Butser Ancient Farm is an archaeological open-air museum and experimental archaeology site. Gather after sundown and follow the Wassail Queen in a torchlit procession through time with Prize Old Mummers and Hook Eagle Morris. There will be a bar selling locally produced cider, mead and a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Hot drinks and snacks will also be available. This event usually sells out so don’t miss out on tickets if you want to go! Click here for more information.

Herefordshire

Westons Cider

Much Markle
Jan 4th, 2025
7pm-9pm (arrive from 5.30pm)

Organised in conjunction with Westons Cider, there’ll be “apple juice” aplenty for this traditional wassail. One of the country’s longest-running Border Morris sides, Silurian Morris, will be dancing up a rumpus at 7pm, followed by an atmospheric procession into the orchard. The event is now ticketed to keep numbers at a manageable level, with all proceeds going to St Michael’s Hospice. “Silurian would like to remind all participants that there is darkness, mud, cold and REAL fire involved – come prepared!”. Is this also the only Wassail with a raffle?! Click here for more information.

Blackthorn Wassail

Newton Court
Jan 11th, 2025
5pm onwards

Hosted by Blackthorn Border Morris, a side formed as recently as 2019, at The Chapel of Apple, this is sure to be a wild wassail. Unfortunately for you, if you haven’t already got a ticket, you’re probably not getting in, as it sold out in 3 minutes flat.

Hertfordshire

New Moon Morris and Friends Wassail

Church Square, Tring, HP23 5AE
Jan 11th, 2025
2pm–4pm

New Moon Morris are heading off on an afternoon tour round the lower end of Tring, for singing, dancing, noise-making, and cider to bless their local trees and wish good health to their neighbours. You’re positively encouraged to join in so head to their website for all the music and words. Click here for more information.

Kent

Hoodening and Wassail

Sandwich Medieval Centre, The Quay, Sandwich
Jan 4th, 2025
4pm (horse at 2pm)

Even before the wassil gets going, there’s plenty of action in Sandwich, with a hooden horse performance at Crispin Inn, Worth at 2pm, before the orchard blessings while you walk to Time and Tide Taproom, Sandwich for more hoodening at 3pm. Upon arrival at Sandwich Medieval Centre you’ll be able to enjoy the Wassail with hoodening, Bower Street Morris and mulled wine. Click here for more information.

Victoria Park and Community Orchard Wassail

Ashford
Jan 11th, 2025
3pm onwards

Music from Ashford Folk and dancing by East Kent Morris will entertain you before the procession to the community orchard, after which there will be toasting and blessing of the fruit trees. You can expect torches, singing and much revelry, which will continue in the marquee afterwards, where food and drink will be available to purchase. Get in touch for more information.

Thanet Wassail

The Bell Inn, St.-Nicholas-at-Wade
Jan 11th, 2025
7.30pm-11pm

We’ve previously been told (and feel it’s worth repeating) that “It is reputed that the first time the words ‘Wass Hael’, meaning ‘be healthy’ or ‘good health’ were spoken on British shores was on the Isle of Thanet, in what is now East Kent, by the Saxon Lady Rowena to the British King Vortigern, and the first recorded Wassail in Kent was in 1585.” History lesson aside, the Thanet Wassail, which has been happening for over 30 years, sounds like an evening not to be missed… You will be led into the garden by The 3rd East Kent The Buffs – a regiment of redcoats, no less – told the story of the first Wassail and invited to join in with songs, chanting and ‘rough music’, so don’t forget your noisemakers. Mumming will follow (whether you like it or not) and the evening rounded off with songs and music in the bar with special guests The Hartley Singers. Pub fare available from The Bell Inn. Click here for more information.

Leicestershire

Orchard Wassail

Cotesback Educational Trust, Lutterworth
Jan 25th, 2025
5pm-7pm

Cotesbach Educational Trust invites you to join in the ancient tradition of wassailing this winter, to ward off evil spirits and bless the trees in the hope of a good harvest later in the year! Dress up warm and experience a night of folklore and songs by candlelight in the gardens and orchard of Cotesbach Hall. Click here for tickets and more information.

Lincolnshire

Stamford Wassail

Christchurch Close, Stamford
Jan 4th, 2025
4:30pm onwards

Wassail kicks off the annual community events with a noisy, firey, usually freezing and very hopeful calling to the trees to start the year again. A community choir will lead the singing, hot spiced juice and cider is provided, and dancing and storytelling may be available. Click here for more information.

London

Wassail in the Pleasaunce

East Greenwich Pleasaunce, Greenwich
Jan 5th, 2025
1pm-2:30pm

Organised by Pip!, with the Greenwich Morris, traditional music and songs from Morrigan and Halstow Community Choir, a drumming workshop, and stories connecting the Wassail to the oldest residents of the Pleasaunce: the sailors who lie beneath it in the Victorian burial ground. Make the most of your trip by visiting the Pistachio Cafe, which we’ve heard serves a fine brunch. Click here for more information.

Lordship Wassail

Lordship Hub Co-op, Lordship Recreaction Ground, Higham Road, N17
Jan 12th, 2025
2pm-5pm

Lots going on at this wassail, with lantern making, face painting, a procession, toasting of the orchard, and singing with members of the Tottenham Community Choir. There’ll be refreshments available after the proceedings, with storytelling and live music in the Hub. Pack your cash for drinks and cakes, and for the collection towards the Hackney Migrant Centre. Click here for more information.

Hackney Wassail

Hackney Downs, Millfield Park and Springfield Park, Hackney
Jan 12th, 2025
Time TBC

This daylight community wassail is here to cheer up Hackney’s trees, and will take you on a gentle walk of about 2 miles if you decide to visit all three locations. There’s the chance to learn some wassailing songs, while the chosen trees enjoy a libation of mulled cider to encourage a good harvest. There won’t be any gunfire, and mulled apple juice, cider and apple themed nibbles will be available. You’re welcome to join for some or all of the festivities, and do take along a friend and a noisemaker. Children, and dogs on leads, very welcome. Click here for more information.

Brunel Museum Wassail

Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe
Jan 25th, 2025
1.30pm-3pm

The Belles of London City (and friends!) welcome you to an underground wassail in Rotherhithe. Watch morris dancing on the museum’s piazza with mulled drinks – then follow the Belles down into the Tunnel Shaft where you’ll have the opportunity to learn a few dances yourself! This event is brand new for 2025. Click here for tickets and more information.

Wassail with Jim Causley

Cecil Sharp House, Regent’s Park Road
Jan 29th, 2025
7.30pm-9.30pm

Acclaimed folk musician and seasoned wassailer Jim Causley leads a traditional wassail ceremony at the home of EFDSS, followed by a music & singing session inside in the bar afterwards. Click here for tickets and more information.

One Tree Hill Wassail

Honor Oak Park
Feb 2, 2025
2.30pm onwards

For the last 15 years or so, people have been meeting on One Tree Hill Allotments to wassail the fruit trees and make merry. This event is primarily for locals, who should take along something to make noise and wear their sturdy footwear. There won’t be gunfire (it’s frowned upon in SE23) but there will be jacket potatoes, so the event is still sure to go off with a bang… Click here for more information.

Barnes Common Winter Wassail

Vine Road Recreation Ground Pavilion, Barnes
Feb 8th, 2025
10am-1pm

The weird and wonderful Wassail is back at the Vine Road Recreation Ground with storytelling, crafts and singing, with a Wassail Master to oversee proceedings. Make noise, make merry and share some warm spiced apple cider and tasty snacks. Don’t forget to dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. You’ll need a ticket, which includes a hot mug of soup from the Vine Road Community Cafe. The Cafe will also be selling hot and cold drinks and other refreshments on the day. This event sold out last year, so get a ticket quick if you want to go. Click here for tickets and more information.

Beddington Park Wassail

Beddington Park Orchard, SM6 7BT
Feb 22nd, 2025
Time TBC

Join Madder Mill Molly and friends as they bless the apple orchard in Beddington Park by the Grange Pub. This is a family friendly wassail, with Molly dancing, toast to entice the robins, and cider to bless the trees. Bring your own pots and pans to awaken the trees with some noise so that they can look forward to a bountiful harvest. Click here for more information.

Merseyside

Brimstage Hall Orchard Wassail

Brimstage Road, Brimstage, Wirral CH63 6JA
Jan 18th, 2025
10.30am onwards

After a cancellation due to the weather in December, the Brimstage organisers have put a new date int he diary. This wassail has developed over the last decade and a bit, and includes the clattering of tins, pans and cups, ribbons being tied to the trees, proclamations of the orchard’s plans for the year ahead, songs to the orchard and the orchard-keepers, invocations to the four corners and the great tower, plus the first visit by Hoylake Borders Morris, who will bring sticks and jackets for anyone who wishes to join in. Could you want more? Well they have it! Cider, apple cakes, lambs’ wool, and the oldest the Codlin-Walloping tradition in the British Isles (colour us intrigued…). At 1pm, there will also be a trip to Mayfields to continue the tree-toasting for their apple and plum trees (see below). Click here for more information.

Mayfields Woodland Garden Orchard Wassail

Mayfields Woodland Remembrance Garden, Eastham
Jan 18th, 2025
1pm onwards

A brand new wassail for 2025! You can expect singing, dancing and the drinking of a toast to the little groves of plum trees and the orchard of Apple trees. Hoylake Borders Morris will be heading over, fresh from the Brimstage Hall Orchard, to share a few dances with any visitors who want to join in.

The Great Meols Wassail

Park Road, Meols, Wirral
Jan 12th, 2025
2pm onwards

With the help of Wirral Pomona and Incredible Edible Hoylake, your presence is enlisted to help drive the Boggarts, Pestilences, Nuisances and Miseries from the Community Orchard in Meols Park (behind the Railway Inn in Meols). With the true story of the Old Wassail, enlivened with a taste of hot cider, and warmed with a jig around the trees. Take your own cup along, plus cakes, pies, and biscuits to share! Hoylake Border Morris will play, dance and teach you the best way to join in the revelry. Click here for more information.

Squash Wassail

Grapes Community Food Garden, Windsor Street, Liverpool
Jan 15th, 2025
11am onwards

At Squash, the apple trees are a key partner in their 100-year vision – which began with their planting in the Grapes Community Food Garden in 2010 – because, if nurtured, an apple tree can live for up to 100 years. Their love of wassailing comes from a shared passion for ritual, being close to nature & community and feeling embodied in the seasons. You’ll be singing round the fire, banging pots & pans, sharing soup, blessing the trees with apple juice & toast, and welcoming the new annual guardians of the orchard (which fortunately involves eating some cake!). Click here for more information.

Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire Wassailing

Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock
Jan 4th, 2025
3pm onwards

This is a Victorian-themed afternoon at the museum, culminating in a Wassail at 3pm led by Jon Bennett. Food and drink will be available at this community wassail, with word sheets provided. If the weather’s good, we’ll go into the lovely gardens at the back of the museum. This event welcomes both adults and children, and instrumentalists are especially welcome. Call 01865 769206 if you’d like to join the scratch band. Click here for more information.

Marston Wassail

Court Place Farm Allotments (Boults Lane Entrance)
Jan 12th, 2025
2pm onwards

Dress warmly for a short procession through the allotment with Morris dancers and bells, followed by fire and singing in the Community Orchard and Forest Garden. Some food/drinks will be available in exchange for donations (cake, cider and hot apple juice), and you’re also invited to bring your own. Email isobel.mcconnan@gmail.com for more information.

Rutland

Ketton Wassail

Hall Close, Ketton
Jan 18th, 2025
4.15pm onwards

This wassail includes Rutland Morris, Ketton Community Choir, Ketton Handbell Ringers, a brazier, a procession, and plenty of a loud noise. What’s not to like?! Email cade_mary@hotmail.com for more information.

Somerset

Porlock Wassail

Dovery Manor Museum, Porlock
Jan 6th, 2025
6pm onwards

Join this triple orchard wassail in Porlock village, with a mummers play to start with, and a traditional wassail ceremony with gunshots. Don’t forget to take your pan lids and noise-making gear for scaring away the evil spirits! The wassail will be followed by a folk song and tune session in the pub – take your folk instruments if you would like to join in. Click here for more information.

Hedgers Cider House Wassail

Bristol
Jan 10th, 2025
6.30pm-11.30pm

The annual Hedgers Cider House Wassail event promises live music, delicious cider, and good cheer. Get ready to participate in traditional toasting to a bountiful harvest, and enjoy the warmth of the Hedgers community around the firepits. Don’t forget to take your own mug for the Wassail toast! We feel cosy just thinking about it. Click here for tickets and more information.

Somerset Rural Life Museum

Glastonbury
Jan 11th, 2025
6:45pm for a 7:30pm start

This Glastonbury wassail takes place in the 14th-century Abbey Barn at the Somerset Rural Life Museum. Aiming for a good apple crop in the coming year, the ceremonies will focus on the blessing of the oldest tree in the neighbouring orchard. The Master of Ceremonies is Les Davies MBE, known for his orchard expertise, and there will be a crowning of the Wassail King or Queen. Booking is essential. Click here for more information.

Jubilee Wood Wassail

Hinton St George
Jan 18th, 2025
5.15pm onwards

The Jubilee Wood Wassail will feature a procession led by the Lord of Misrule along a candlelit path to the centre of the wood. Here you’ll be entertained with rousing wassail songs. The Lord of Misrule will close the ceremony by presenting cider and toast to the guardian tree, followed by a cacophony of sound to frighten the devil away and ensure a good apple harvest next year. Click here for more information.

Rich’s Cider Wassail

Watchfield, Highbridge
Jan 18th, 2025
7pm onwards

What better place to hold a wassail than in a cider brewery in Somerset? And, as if blessing the trees for a good harvest isn’t reason enough, Rich’s Cider’s event is always in aid of charity. ‘Scrumpy and Western Music’ will be provided by The Skimmy Hitchers, and delicious hot food will be on sale all night. Please note that tickets are only on sale in advance and will not be available on the night. Click here for more information.

Hillfields Community Garden Wassail

Thicket Avenue, Bristol
Jan 19th, 2025
1pm-3pm

You can look forward to warmed apple juice and homemade cakes as well as some traditional Wassail songs, and you’re welcome to join in the singing or just listen to the songs which have been sung in orchards around the country for many years. Donations welcome, which go towards future events, so dig deep and support this local project! Click here for more information.

Community Farm Wassail

Chew Magna
Jan 25th, 2025
1pm-3.30pm

Gather around the fire and learn traditional Wassail songs with folk singer-songwriter Susanna Waters (no talent or experience necessary, just enthusiasm!) and the local folk band from Three Hares Farm. There’ll be craft opportunities and a bar selling local ciders, organic apple juice, hot drinks and seasonal sustenance designed by local food wizards Wild Thyme Kitchen, so make sure arrive peckish! Click here for more information.

Sheppy’s Cider Wassail

Sheppy’s House of Cider, Taunton
Jan 31st, 2025
5:30pm-10pm

Sheppy’s make awfully good cider, so we have high hopes for their wassail. They’re also the only wassailers on this list to promise “chanting”, alongside the usual dancing and tree libations, which makes them sound ever-so-slightly dark and Pagan. Get involved – tickets essential! Click here for more information.

Suffolk

Newmarket Orchard Wassail

The Guarded Orchard, Newmarket
Jan 11th, 2025
2pm onwards

A brand new wassail for 2025! Meet beforehand for face painting and then move to the orchard for the Wassail Ceremony where you’ll drink a toast to the trees and hang toast on the branches. Afterwards, there’ll be a ceilidh with Stumpy Oak Band. Click here for tickets and more information.

Bungay Folk Festival Wassail

Earsham Street, Bungay
Jan 12th, 2025
3pm onwards

Meet at the Old Post Office in Earsham Street to process to several locations around Bungay where you’ll wassail the apple trees (ably by Paul Gill) and enjoy some mulled cider. The team tell us that all the trees that were wassailed last year have had a good crop this year, so they would like to repeat this success! Afterwards, music and merriment will continue at The Three Tuns until around 4.30pm. Contact bungayfolk@gmail.com to let them know if you’re going.

Sweffling White Horse Wassail

Low Road, Sweffling
Jan 16th, 2025
7:30pm onwards

This wassail is a long-standing tradition in the local area. The evening starts with a slow, torch-lit procession by Old Glory Molly through the village down to the pub, followed by some very serious Molly dancing. Then everyone heads off again to Old Glory’s apple tree for a toast to the season, complete with gunshots and and singing. We think it probably has to be seen to be believed. Afterwards, there’s a session back in the pub with special guest artists. Click here for more information.

Wales

Gower Wassail and Mari Lwyd Festival Weekend

Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill
Jan 11th and 12th, 2025

A whole weekend of winter festivities. Food, drink, morris, Mari Lwyds, cider, torch light, and all the loud noises you’d expect to hear when waking a sleeping orchard. Click here for more information and tickets.

Magor and Undy Community Hub Wassail

Undy, Caldicot
Jan 17th, 2025
6.30pm-9pm

Dress warmly and be ready to raise your voices and glasses to the health of the apple trees at the Community Hub. Storyteller Christine Watkins will be the ‘Apple Queen’, leading the tree blessing and Katie Bachelor will be performing traditional songs and dance music of Gwent on the fiddle. Take along a pot or pan to bang on to ward away the evil spirits, and join your local community in this traditional celebration of the seasons. Donations for a community bleed kit are being sought, either in advance or on the night. Click here for more information and tickets. 

West Sussex

The Tarring Wassail

Tarring High Street, Worthing
Jan 5th, 2025
8pm onwards

Take part in a torchlit procession with Sompting Village Morris, helping to wake up the tree spirits. There’ll be wassail cake and cup in exchange for a donation. No gunfire for this wassail, but a Mummers play will follow the wassail. Click here for more information.

Hurstpierpoint Wassail

Millennium Garden, Hurstpierpoint
Jan 11th, 2025
5pm-7.30pm

Meet at the Millenium Garden for some singing and dancing at 5pm, then there’ll be a short procession down St Georges Lane to the heritage orchard in Hurst Meadows to sing to the young trees. You’ll need sturdy footwear and warm clothing, and you’re welcome to take some warming drinks/snacks along. There’s a free workshop in the morning to help you learn the songs in advance too. Click here for more information.

Weald & Downland Living Museum Wassailling Day

Chichester
Jan 19th, 2025
10am-4pm

A whole day of processions, music, songs, and performances. Plenty of noise to ensure a good apple harvest for the coming year and it’s a BYO Pots and Pans event. This is a ticketed event. See the museum website for lots of useful details. Click here for more information.

Wiltshire

TWIGS Community Garden Wassail

Manor Garden Centre, Swindon
Jan 11th, 2025
11am-1pm

This wassail features Icknield Way Morris Men, who’ll be assisting in proceeding. Take something to rattle, bang and shake, and help bless the apple trees for a bountiful harvest in 2025. Free entry but donations are very welcome, and seasonal refreshments will be available. Click here for more information.

Worcestershire

The Fleece Inn

Bretforton
Jan 11th, 2025
5:30pm onwards

Christmas is over and January sees the return of the Fleece Inn’s annual Wassail. From dusk, the apple orchard comes alive with cider, singing and Morris dancers. You can expect to see Pebworth Morris, Belle D’ Vain Northwest, Aelfgythe, Alvechurch, Elemental, and Bow Brook Morrises shaking a leg and a stick, before a procession to the orchard at 7pm and a music session in the barn later. Fun for all the family and a brilliant way to dispel those winter blues! Click here for more information.

Wychbold Wassail

Wychbold Village Hall, Wychbold
Jan 18th, 2025
6pm onwards

This is a brand new Wassail in Wychbold! Gather next to the village hall where a beacon will be lit and the local Town Cryer will lead proceedings. Three morris sides, including Bow Brook Border Morris, will be in attendance, and there will be a lantern parade to the orchard before waking, toasting (ale, cider and apple juice available) and blessing the trees with singing and dancing. Music and song continues afterwards at the village social club. This will be a free, family friendly event where all are welcome and encouraged to join in. Click here for more information.

Yorkshire

Wassail: A Winter Apple Celebration

Meanwood Valley Urban Farm, Leeds
Jan 9th, 2025
6pm-8pm

Congregate under the open top barn in Meanwood Valley Urban Farm before heading to the Orchard. There’ll be plenty of songs to join in with, and the MVUF choir (sorry, this farm has a choir?? How marvellous!) will treat you to some Wassail classics. Hot food will be available too. Click here for more information and tickets.

Otley Chevin Orchard Wassail

Otley Chevin, near Leeds
Jan 11th, 2025
2pm onwards

The Otley Chevin Orchard project started in 1995 and is home to no less than 64 varieties of apples, greengages, plums and pears. You can even hire their juicing facilities! You’re invited to join them in toasting the trees and encouraging the spirits to ensure a good harvest the following season. Parking is available at various locations: the White House, opposite the maze, and in the field adjacent to the orchard (a very steep walk or drive!). Click here for more information.

Sheffield Wassail Celebration

Airy Fairy, Highfield
Jan 19th, 2025
7pm-9pm

Given the number of folky folk in Sheffield (is it the unofficial folk capital of the world…?), it seems only right that a bit of a wassail knees up has been organised by the good people at the Sheffield Folklore Society. Don’t miss the chance to sing along to festive tunes, savor delicious mulled cider, enjoy magical storytelling, and join in the timeless tradition of wassailing! Click here for more information and tickets.

USA

Washington

Seattle Wassail

50th and Meridian Ave. N., Seattle
Jan 11th, 2025
1pm onwards

Come together with your neighbours, head down to the Meridian Playground and take part in a tradition honouring the historic apple orchards in the area. The family friendly event includes singing, morris dancing, and toasting the heritage apple trees. Click here for more information.