St George's Day Celebrations

St George's Day Celebrations Sat 18 Apr Derby LIVE

Mon 20 Apr 2015

If you were in and around Derby City Centre between 11am - 3:30pm on Sat 18 Apr, you may have witnessed some of our St George's Day Celebrations taking place throughout the city streets and in the Market Place. 

There was a buzz of activity around the Market Place from early on as Morris Dancers, Archery re-enactments, birds of prey and Arts and Crafts stalls were preparing for the day ahead. Along with the Cathedral Quarter Saturdays and Furthest From the Sea's craft stalls under the Guildhall Theatre arches - a collection of the best hand made items Derby has to offer - there was plenty to see and do, and what's more, the weather was glorious! 

Around 11am crowds gathered around Millets opposite the Eagle Market to watch a Morris Dancing performance from Winster Morris, before the parade officially left to wind it's way through the city. Along the route, dancers from Whip The Cat Rappers, Silkstone Greens, Bootleg Molly and Makeney Morris were picked up and joined the parade to it's final destination; the Market Place Waterfall.

During the parade, we spoke to a couple who had picked up a Derby LIVE What's On Guide in Buxton and had travelled from Congleton, Cheshire and stayed over night, especially to be at the St George's Day Celebrations - who knew our What's On Guides could travel as far as Cheshire! 

Once in the Market Place, the Lost Boys provided an entertaining re-enactment of the George and the Dragon story, getting people from the large crowd that had gathered in on the action! Some unlucky maidens were even offered up as a sacrifice for the dragon...

Throughout the afternoon was a variety of entertainment and performances from St Andrews School, Portway Junior School, Cherry Tree Junior School, Wyndham Academy, St James Junior School, Bootleg Molly, Walter Evans Primary, Whip The Cat Rapper, a Flashmob Ceilidh, Silkstone Greens, Makeney Morris and 1623 Theatre Company!

Visitors to the Market Place could also get up close and personal with some birds of prey, have a go at archery or create an origami flower! Let us know the highlights (or indeed lowlights - any feedback is appreciated!) via our Facebook or Twitter pages, and take a look at our gallery below!