Discover dragons, dancing and the legend of St George at a free family-friendly event in Derby city centre. The city’s annual St George’s Day celebrations will take place on Saturday 22 April.
The packed programme, brought to you by Derby LIVE in conjunction with The Lost Boys, FOLK3D and St Peters Quarter BID, features a feast of family fun for St George’s Day.
It will champion all the wonderful eccentricities of English heritage and culture, from traditional music and dancing to archery and medieval combat. Add in a spot of knight training and a few roaming dragons and you can be sure there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
Councillor Jonathan Smale, Derby City Council cabinet member for Finance, Digital and Culture, said:
Derby is proud to celebrate St George’s Day and the rich traditions of England’s history. We’re delighted to have so many fantastic groups and performers taking part in our celebrations and hope Derby citizens will join us for what promises to be a thoroughly entertaining event.
Events will kick off at 11.45am, with Derby’s own St George’s Day community musicians leading a merry band of dancers to the Market Place, along with St George and his dragon. Look out for the dragons later on too, as they roam the Market Place during the afternoon.
On the Market Place stage, there will be entertainment from The Lost Boys, who will bring the legend of St George and the Dragon to life with their tongue-in-cheek take on the myth of England’s patron saint. The free outdoor performance is guaranteed to include lots of laughs and audience participation.
Afterwards, you can join in with the community ceilidh or dance the maypole and weave the magical colours in time with the music. Watch the Morris and clog dancers bring ancient traditions to the city’s streets with music and dance, as they perform in the Market Place, as well as appearing at St Peters Cross, The Ram and Sadlergate, supported by St Peters Quarter BID.
Brad Worley, Business Improvement District (BID) Manager for St Peters Quarter BID, said:
We’re thrilled to be able to offer our support once again for this great day. As one of the wide range of events we are supporting and organising in Derby this year, we’re excited to be helping Derby LIVE deliver a really great experience for visitors to St Peters Quarter.
Dancers will include Derby’s very own local team of Appalachian dancers, Restless Soles, plus Cotswold Morris side Pecsaetan, Staffordshire-based Ryknild Rabble Morris and Stone Monkey Sword from Long Eaton.
Meanwhile, you can learn how the medieval knights train for their tourneys and shoot the English longbow with trained instructors from Reach the Core to get that bullseye! Team Falchion Medieval Re-enactors will have displays of armour and medieval combat, culminating in a tourney – who will be the last man standing?
The St George’s Day celebration will run from 11am until 3pm. Visit the Derby LIVE website for more information and programme timings.