Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival

Featured Image: Colin Rayner Photography

If I’ve recently been singing the praises of arts diversity in Bradford-on-Avon, centred around the Wiltshire Music Centre and not yet touched upon the various other venues such as the Three Horseshoes and Boathouse, here’s something to wrap it up into one neat package, the Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival……

A free one-dayer, the festival is organised by the town council, a vibrant, family-friendly community gathering featuring traditional dance, music, song, and folklore which runs throughout the town centre on Saturday 11 May 2024, from 9.30am to 5pm.

They hail “there’s something for everyone,” and that story checks out; with over forty dance groups, comprising three-hundred and twenty dancers and musicians, the Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival ranges from Morris dancing to European styles, and encourages you to have a go!

Homegrown Performance troupe, Ganderflankers presents Jack and Jill in the Green, a whimsical journey of a 10ft tall Jack and Jill with their bands and fantasy beasts, visits twelve locations across the town.

Wiltshire Music Centre stage hosts a stage at the Holy Trinity Church, and the festival launch party will be held at the Centre on Friday 10th May, ticketed, it features folk-rock legends Lindisfarne. A new addition for 2024 will be The Three Horseshoes hosting a blues stage, featuring the best local blues musicians. There’s also the Folk Club Stage in St Margaret’s Hall. The festival also boasts music sessions in town centre pubs, a regularly featured samba band at the Tithe Barn in the afternoon, a Mummers’ play performed around town, and buskers too.

Pagan Arts & Crafts market with about a dozen stalls selling everything for the closet pagan, shops’ window dressing, and an Artisan Market with thirty or so local makers. With a children’s fun zone with fairground rides, magical storytelling and face painters, The Community Hub for local groups and clubs to showcase their activities, and yet to be confirmed Saturday night party to polish it off, looks like the party is in Bradford-on-Avon in May…..twist my arm why don’t you!!

More Information about Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival HERE