Date published: 2025-01-16 | Category: Delivering for local residents, Environment and Clean Air, Somer Valley
Midsomer Norton residents and visitors are being invited to join in the town’s annual wassail on February 1, a traditional celebration to encourage ‘good spirits’ and bless apple orchards for a good harvest.
The event starts at the new Market Square on The Island, followed by a procession to the Town Park to crown wassail kings and queens, make a traditional toast, and 'wake up' the apple trees for a good year ahead.
The wassail celebration is free to attend for everyone and is being run by Somer Valley Rediscovered, Bath & North East Somerset Council and Midsomer Norton Community Trust.
Free activities on offer include face painting and family workshops at The Island from 10am-12pm. Costume such as ivy, green face paint, and colourful bohemian clothes is encouraged and there will be a costume competition, the winner of which will win a Somer Valley Farm hamper. People are also invited to bring along pots, pans, bells and whistles to make a hullabaloo and ward off evil spirits.
The official procession will begin at 12pm outside the Town Hall in the Market Square on The Island. Master of Ceremonies, Trevor Hughes, the Cam Valley Morris Men, Frome Street Bandit musicians, the Langport Mummers, and the Merriman Theatre Group with a giant puppet will lead the procession to the entrance of the Town Park.
The afternoon's entertainment in the Midsomer Norton Town Park will include a folk play, Morris dancing, Frome Street Bandits and the wassail ceremony. Cider and apple cake will be available.
The family workshops include:
- Instrument and Noise Makers Workshop – Join Somer Valley Rediscovered & Little Lost Robots CIC to make 'Noise Makers' and instruments to play in the Wassail procession and help wake the trees in time for spring. All ages welcome and all materials provided.
- Apple Tree Pollination – Fun Science will be leading a workshop on the science behind fruit tree pollination.
- Live Music - Frome Street Bandits will provide some great folk and wassail songs before and during the procession along Midsomer Norton High Street to the Town Park.
A Midsomer Norton Town Wassail Family and School Pack is available online for inspiration and information about crafting to decorate the high street.
Somer Valley Rediscovered (SVR) aims to improve biodiversity while better connecting the Somer Valley communities to the local natural spaces. It was established in 2020 as a green infrastructure partnership project led by Bath & North East Somerset Council, Wessex Water, Natural England and University of Bath. More information is available on the Somer Valley Rediscovered website
Somer Valley Rediscovered is funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Westfield Parish Council, Midsomer Norton Town Council, Radstock Town Council, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Natural England and Wessex Water.
ENDS