MIDDLE-EARTH WEEKEND - 20th May 2012

The overcast and sometimes threatening weather did little to affect the attendance at this year's festivities. Thousands turned out for this regular family event. This year celebrated the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit but although Tolkien aficionados turned up in force, there were very few Hobbits to be seen amongst the Gandalfs, Vikings and Morris Men. 

I've probably blogged this subject to death over the last few years (sorry about the pun) so I'll just post some photos with occasional notes. I have added a link at the end to a more comprehensive posting from the 2010 weekend.

 Medieval Craft Village.

 Mugs, dishes etc for sale, some decorated with runes.

 Fantasy art, mugs, games.

 The Tolkien Society stall, showing off one of the Legolas posters.

 Costumes were varied and often not Tolkienesque. This made for a colourful variation of characters.

 The musicians and dancers of  The Wytchwood Morris Dancers look on......

 ...as "members of the public" are invited to take part in the dancing....

including a member of the local constabulary. 

The Wild Man of the Woods. 

Setting a new land speed record for dragons. Arranged by  Alchemy Theatre 

 Members of the Doublets and Damsels Dance Group outside the performance tent...

(facebook link)

... meanwhile inside the tent The Wild Man of the Woods is performing. 

Inside Sarehole Mill. The mill was not working because the pond was being dredged. 

It seemed fitting to pop into the aptly named Hungry Hobbit sandwich bar just along the road for a bite to eat. This is situated only a short distance from Tolkien's old home and the areas he played in (Sarehole Mill and Moseley Bog) and so gained inspiration for his books.

Much more Middle-earth Weekend stuff HERE.

Earlsdon Morris Men band and dancers in Chamberlain Square.

Earlsdon Morris provide a floral display.

Fiddlesticks perform a garland dance.

Fiddlesticks dancers exit after one of their performances. The large audience in Chamberlain Square was remarkable considering that just round the corner in Victoria Square....

St George's Day Celebrations - 26th April 2008

Various activities took place in several places around Birmingham City Centre. But I have just concentrated on a few photographs (and 1 video) of some of the traditional dance events in Chamberlain Square. I say a few, because last year I took hundreds at the Big Birmingham Morris Caper
The weather held as children danced round the maypole and played on a bouncy-dragon.
The day ended in a well-deserved thirst-quenching session at The Wellington.
Pictured above are the Newcastle Kingsmen Sword Dancers.

The Jockey Morris Men in front of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

.

Jockey Morris Men perform their final dance "Bonny Green Garters".

(Video)

Earlsdon Morris Men.

The Earlsdon Morris musicians.

A potential recruit? This young man was dancing away happily.

Afterwards, in The Wellington, "Little Pete" heads to the bar for a half-pint of ale.

The BIG BIRMINGHAM MORRIS CAPER 14th April 2007

Nearly 50 Morris-dancing sides descended on Birmingham to provide several hours of traditional entertainment around the city's squares, and quite a lot of unscheduled entertainment in the hostelries as well. The event was organized by the Jockey Morris Men.
The sunny weather was a blessing, and helped to draw the crowds. Everywhere you went around the city centre you were surrounded by the sounds of bells, sticks, clogs and dance tunes. And when I say everywhere...

St Philips Cathedral...

Here are Berkshire Bedlam Morris, see http://www.berkshirebedlam.org/index.html
They travelled from Wokingham for the day.....

.... and were pleased to pose for the camera.

Here are the Eryri Morris from Bethesda, Wales.

Still at the cathedral we have the Windsor Morris.

Victoria Square...

I sneaked away from the cathedral, along Colmore Row and to Victoria Square. Here I disovered the Cardiff Ladies Morris .