The Grand Procession, in order of appearance..

Jack, The Bogies and Black Sal,
Mad Jack's Morris,
The Sweeps,
The May Queen,
Hannah's Cat,
The Lovely Ladies,
The Gay Bogies,
Section Five,
The Hastings Giant,
Morris sides and Giants,
Sambalanco,
Green Participants,
Rumpledrumskin.

* 2011 Procession and New Route

Please be aware that the procession route has changed again this year. The route is as follows:
Fishermen's Museum, All Saints Street, across the Bourne, High Street - break for refreshments- Swan Terrace, Croft Road, Collier Road, Priory Road, Ladies Parlour, Castle. Important! Green participants are welcome but are reminded that they should join the procession behind Sambalanco and before Rumpledrumskin (the final group). If in any doubt, speak to a marshal.

*For reasons of health and safety, the organisers would like to request performers do not access George Street on Monday the second of May.

(Train service information for the weekend: Saturday service on Friday 29th April, and a Sunday service on Monday 2nd May)

*The Jack In The Green Exhibition*

History House, Courthouse Street, Hastings Old Town,
Opening 21st of April to 8th of May.
Opening times 11am-4pm Thursday-Sunday

Now in its fourth fabulous year, the Jack In the Green Exhibition is an exciting taste of the weekend's festivities, providing a cultural and historic reference point for the event.
Crammed full of vivid images, giants and costumes all framed by luscious greenery, its easy to feel immersed in the magic of Jack In The Green.

Storytelling with Hilary Watkins & Ben Fairlight.

Storytelling workshops for accompanied children, 4.30-6 pm

Story & music performance for adults of "The Birth of Taliesin & other Celtic stories",
with "Two Bards in a Coracle", Hilary Watkins & Ben Fairlight, 7.30-9.30.

Ben Fairlight tells tales, sings songs, speaks poetic words for  audiences of all ages, anywhere, anytime. www.songstory.co.uk
Hastings Angling Club, East Beach Street, The Stade.

Ceilidh with The Catsfield Steamers, 7:30 for 8:00pm

The Catsfield Steamers have played British traditional music, for social dance...... since the last century! They have played all over the country and abroad, for festivals, weddings, and all manner of celebrations. The melody and harmonies are provided by fiddle, banjo, flute, piccolo, mandolin, and melodeon, backed by driving rhythms from guitar and drums. Jane Downes, the band’s permanent caller, has vast experience of guiding the dancers, whatever their level of experience, through the dances enjoyed so much by our forebears, and people young and old today.
Make sure you bring suitable shoes for dancing – once you hear the music you will definitely not be able to remain seated!!

8.00pm at St. Mary In The Castle, Pelham Place. Doors open at 7.30. Admission £3.00
http://www.catsfieldsteamers.co.uk/

PLUS Live music sessions in the Old Town at various local hostelries. Why not try The Stag in All Saints Street or The Jenny Lind and The First In Last Out, both in the High Street. There’s sure to be something for everyone, just take your pick!

Morris Dancing around the Town, 12:30 pm onwards

Starting at Winkle Island on the Bourne, Morris Dancers will be performing far and wide, including our host sides, Mad Jacks Morris  and Hannah's Cat.



Rattlebag, 3:00 pm onwards

Come and join in the Song Session with Rattlebag and friends in The Stag, All Saints Street from 3.00pm until 5.00pm. Admission Free.

The Big Saturday Ceilidh with All Blacked Up, 7:30 for 8:00pm

This year the Big Ceilidh features the magnificent All Blacked UP .

“When it comes to infectious ceilidh music guaranteed to get even the most reluctant feet tapping, if not dancing, All Blacked Up are among the best”.
(Folk London Magazine)

8.00pm at St. Mary In The Castle, Pelham Place. Doors open at 7.30. Admission £8.00, children £3
http://www.allblackedup.co.uk/

Dance in the Dawn, 4:30 am

Dance in the Dawn with local Morris sides at the Ladies Parlour, West Hill.


Festival Celebration Church Service, 10:00 am

All are welcome at this special family communion with morris dancing and morris musicians,
which will be held at St Clements Church, The High Street, Old Town.
The service will be followed by Morris dancing outside the church.


The Queen of the May, 1:30 pm

The Castle will be a hive of excitement as the Hastings May Queen 2011 is officially crowned, and the Garland Competition takes place.


Section 5 Drummers and Sambalanco , 4:00 pm

Section 5 Drummers and Sambalanco will be performing in "Butler's Gap" George Street from 4pm onwards.

The Copper Family of Rottingdean 3:30 for 4:00 pm

One of the highlights of the Jack In The Green weekend is the afternoon concert by this very special family of singers. Always hugely popular, they are performing for the seventh year in a row and always make this an afternoon to remember!

4.00pm at St. Mary In The Castle, Pelham Place. Doors open at 3.30. Admission £5.00
www.thecopperfamily.com
Robb Johnson, 8pm

Robb Johnson is now widely recognised as one of the finest songwriters working in the UK today.

8pm at The Stables Theatre, The Bourne, Hastings Old Town. Admission £8.00, Children £3.00
http://www.robbjohnson.co.uk

Les Derniers Trouveres, 7:30 for 8:00 pm

"Les Derniers Trouvères" are indeed the Last Troubadours travelling throughout France and Europe carrying on the grand tradition of the medieval royal court. Be transported through time by the medieval sounds of the arch viola, the mandola, the bagpipe, the harp and beautiful voices carrying profound words.
http://www.lesdernierstrouveres.com/

8.00pm at St. Mary In The Castle, Pelham Place. Doors open at 7.30. Admission £8.00


The Big Squeeze, 8:00 pm

If you fancy a relaxing session then come and play or listen to a few tunes at the White Rock Hotel, with squeezebox players, Alan, Goose and Trooper.

8:00 pm at The White Rock Hotel, Seafront, 1-10 White Rock.

*For reasons of health and safety, the organisers would like to request performers do not access George Street on Monday the second of May.


Breakfast, 7.00 am

Start the day with a "Morris Dancer Breakfast" in the crypt of St. Mary Star of the Sea from 7:30-900.am. Proceeds to "The Two Towers Trust"


The Gathering, 09:45 am

The Morris sides, the Bogies, the Sweeps and a whole host of other characters start to gather at the Net Huts in Rock-a-Nore Road in the Old Town. The greening begins here!


The Release of the Jack, 10:15 am

To a chorus of Bogie drummers, the Jack is released from the Fishermens Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road, where Mad Jack's Women perform their magical dance around him. The Procession begins. After the Jack and his attendant Bogies come the men and women of Mad Jacks Morris , the Sweeps, the Giants, Hannah's Cat Morris and all of Jacks other guests.


High Street , 11:15 am

After moving through the Old Town, the Jack and the Procession pause for refreshment and dancing in the High Street . The procession will re-form at 11:45 to leave at 12:00.

** From this point the new route will turn up Swan Terrace, turn past St. Clements Church moving up Croft Road, along Collier Road and across the West Hill and into the Castle grounds **


The Castle, 12:30 pm

The Jack arrives in the Castle via the Ladies Parlour while the Bogies drum the procssion in. Please note - performers will enter via the drawbridge, spectators via the usual entrance at a charge of £3.00 adults or £1.00 for children.


Morris Dancing at the Castle, 12:45 pm

Enjoy the afternoon as each Morris side showcases their dances. Visit the Craft Fair on the Ladies Parlour and tuck into some tasty snacks from the various food stalls.


The Slaying of the Jack, 3:30 pm

After the dancing, the Bogies parade the Jack down to the stage where he is symbolically slain and the Spirit of Summer is released for another year.
Note that this is an approximate time for the finale due to the number of sides dancing, beer supply, acts of gods, Bogies, weather and just about anything else.



The bar closes, 4:30 pm


5:00 pm. The castle grounds are closed