For a description of morris and related activities, see: What is Morris Dancing
See our dance style in action on YouTube ‘Buzzing Britain’ video playlist showcasing different styles of morris and sword dancing
Where to see morris in the UK
There are many folk festivals featuring morris and traditional dance displays. Here are some of the festivals and other events where you can see a lot of morris, sword and clog dancing, in England:
January – April
- Whittlesea Straw Bear – a weekend in mid January
- Mark Jones day of dance for Molly dancers – hosted by Ouse Washes Molly dancers – usually the last Saturday in January
- Dancing England Rapper Tournament (DERT) – a Saturday of rapper sword competition usually in March or April
- Joint Morris Organisations’ (JMO) Day of Dance – a Saturday in March or April see our events
May
- 1st May – lots of morris dancing all over the country, some at sunrise
- Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green – a long weekend over the May day bank holiday
- Rochester Sweeps Festival – a long weekend over the May day bank holiday
- Upton Folk Festival – a long weekend over the May day bank holiday
- Bampton on Whit Monday – a full day of dance into the evening
June
- Vale of Evesham National Morris Weekend – a weekend in mid June
July
- Gate to Southwell Festival (GTSF) – a weekend in July
- Warwick Folk Festival – a weekend at the end of July
August
- Sidmouth Folk Festival – a full week – first week in August. Including the John Gasson Jig Competition
- Broadstairs Folk Week – a full week in the middle of August
- Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance – a full week in the middle of August
- Whitby Folk Week – a full week – the week running up to the August bank holiday. Including the Cliff Barstow Jig Competition
September
- Lincoln Big Morris – one day – first Saturday in September
- Abbots Bromley Horn Dance – on Wakes Monday in early September
- Bromyard Folk Festival – a weekend in mid September
- Clog Comp – Lancashire & Cheshire Clog Dance Competitions – a weekend in mid September
- Morris Federation Day of Dance and AGM – usually the last Saturday in September, see our events
October – December
- Derby Folk Festival – a weekend in mid October
- Sword Dance Union (SDU) Longsword Competition – a Saturday in October or November
- Boxing Day – many teams dance out on Boxing Day
Want to have a go?
Morris teams always welcome new members – the best time to join is often over the winter, around October – January, to get ready for ‘dancing out’ in the summer. Some teams have designated ‘open evenings’, but do always ask if you would like to have a go but can’t make that date.
Many festivals have morris dancing workshops.
See also:
- Folk Camps – a suite of week-long and weekend events, mostly in the summer, where you can help out with teaching and running the event
- Halsway Manor – national centre for the folk arts – residential courses
Calendar Customs
For a great list of regular folk customs:
- Calendar Customs – British calendar customs and local traditions
Overseas Folk Festivals
- CIOFF (International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts) has a large number of major international festivals that your team may be able to perform at if you become a member. See also CIOFF (UK) and Billingham International Folklore Festival (BIFF).
Last updated: March 2026
