Tintern Greenman Michaelmas Festival

The special focus this year is the Green Man, and also Green Woman and Green Children, mediaeval symbols for celebrating our bond with nature.

Song and dance is joined by many other events and entertainments, this year with many more activities designed for the younger people of the area, and visitor 'green children'.
Awareness of 'green environmental issues that affect us locally is encouraged throughout the festival.

So what is Michaelmas?

Michaelmas --the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel--is a day in the Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September.
Because it falls near the equinox, it is associated in the northern hemisphere with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days.
The archangel Michael is one of the principal angelic warriors, seen as a protector against the dark of night, and the administrator of cosmic intelligence.

In mediaeval times Michaelmas became widely celebrated as the end of the harvest season with an annual trading fayre - the exchanging/buying of-wares and a period of festive song and dance.

FRIDAY, 24th SEPTEMBER -- 7:30 PM

We will be starting the festival with a classical concert by the Parva Strings Quartet at St. Michael's Church playing music by Mozart and Mendelssohn.

Both alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages will be available as well as canapes. Entrance is £10 per person which includes your first drink.

SATURDAY 25th SEPTEMBER--
A full day of family activities starting at 12:00.

The main days events will start at the Wye Valley Hotel where the St. Michael's will be the venue for the start of a full day of chilfren's activities. They will start at St. Michael's with story telling and activities and will continue at the Old Station with both activities outside (find the Green Man) as well as activities in the childrens marquee. These activities will range from story telling, face painting, children's poetry from local primary schools as well as many other activities.

As in last year's procession from St. Michael's Church to The Old Station, we again are blessed with John McShane, our Welsh Piper (yes there is a difference between Welsh piping and Scottish Piping, see if you can see the difference?) will again lead us across the field on the Wye Valley walk for the procession. John has played the Bagpipes for many years and has played as part of Welsh Pipers at Welsh Rugby matches. He brings new life and energy to the bagpipes as you will have not heard before.

Tintern Old Station is the venue with tents, canopies and greenery.
JUGGLERS, SINGERS, DANCERS, STORY TELLERS will entertain through the day as well as STALLS with plenty of things to buy including LOCAL ARTS & CRAFTS.
A Children's 'TOY EXCHANGE' to trade old unwanted toys for some that some other greenchild wants to exchange. We are finding new homes for these toys to prevent Toy Story 3 happening to Tintern's beloved old toys.

The miniature train will be running along with an exhibit by Keith Evans, a local model maker who does wonderful working models of historic vehicles. Something to visit in it's own right.

FAYRE HIGHLIGHTS include the famous PHILIP CHATFIELD carving A GREEN MAN SCULPTURE all day, using traditional tools and techniques.
Watch as this figure is transformed throughout the day.
This stone carving will be auctioned at the Michaelmas on Sunday with the proceeds going to the St. Michael's Restoration Fund.

For Children there will be many activities happening all day and for ' Ye Olde Children' there will be stalls where you can buy refreshments including our local award winning wines from Parva Vineyard and Tintern's own micro brewery Kingstone Brewery

From 5:00 pm a HOG ROAST and CELIDH DANCE completes the festivities--where local artisan beer and wine and mead can wash down the hog. Delicious vegetarian dishes will also abound.

SUNDAY, 26th SEPTEMBER -- 19:30

On Sunday there will be a traditional feast at the Wye Valley Hotel . This will be the feast the way it used to be cooked a pheasant inside chicken inside a duck inside a goose all cooked at the same time (vegetarian option available). There will be an auction of a stone Green Man sculpted by Philip Chatfield sculptor of the Our Lady in Tintern

Come join in the Tintern Green-Family Festival