FAQ

  • When is Richmond MayFest?

    MayFest takes place every early May Bank Holiday Weekend. So far we have had events on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday but this year we are adding an evening event on the Friday to kick things off.

    So this year the dates are 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th May 2024

  • What is Richmond MayFest?

    MayFest is a community celebration of Maytime, focusing on historical and traditional music, dance and storytelling, with a strong dose of family fun. Maytime has been a time of celebration for literally centuries - millennia! MayFest brings entertainment into the streets and venues of Richmond, and always involves lots of contributions from community groups as well as professional performers.

  • Can I help with MayFest?

    YES! If you would like to volunteer at MayFest, we will welcome you with open arms. Duties involve setting up the various venues, welcoming and helping out performers, admissions at concerts and dances, giving out leaflets and information, getting surveys done, marshalling on parades, and of course tidying up at the end… Help on one or more days, even just for half a day, is so very welcome - please just get in touch.

  • Is MayFest free?

    Mostly! Here’s how it breaks down:

    • All the events in the Market Place and the Town Hall are free, apart from the Saturday Coffee Morning which (as usual) has an admission of £1.50 on the door.

    • Local residents (DL9, DL10 and DL11 postcodes) get free entrance to Richmond Castle on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and to Richmondshire Museum on Saturday and Sunday. You just need to bring a proof of address. Everyone else pays as usual for these two venues.

    • Our two Saturday concerts, and the two dances on Friday and Sunday are ticketed, but again there are discounts for DL9, DL10 and DL11 residents.

    You’ll see the Richmond MayFest donations buckets at the various venues and donations are always welcome. MayFest volunteers will remind people about the donations buckets - don’t worry, it is not compulsory to give - but every little helps!

  • I'm interested in performing at MayFest?

    Community groups in and around Richmond (and we’ll stretch that to 20 miles or so) involved in traditional or historical music-making, dancing or other entertainment (eg mumming) are all welcome to be part of MayFest. Just drop us a line at richmondmayfest@gmail.com and if we possibly can we will fit you in. We will of course pay all your expenses.

    Amateur performers - again, if you play folk, traditional, or historical music - are also really welcome, as are world music traditions. Send us a video or recording, and we can take it from there. Preference is given to performers from Yorkshire and the north east, and expenses will be met. Get in touch here!

    Professional performers should also get in touch! We are particularly interested in:

    • street entertainers who fit our brief of music/dance/ storytelling, are suitably for a family audience, and can involve the audience.

    • Folk/world/early music ensembles or individual musicians