Cerne Giant Festival

The CERNE GIANT FESTIVAL was born out of our vibrant May Day tradition, when the Morris Dancers and villagers gather at dawn on the Trendle, the original  site of the village Maypole at the top of the Cerne Giant. Here we salute the sunrise and celebrate the start of summer with a barrel of Beltane Beer.  At this time we celebrate Beltane, which is one of the four Celtic quarter day festivals that mark and revere the passing of the seasons. For millennia, communities have come together at Beltane to celebrate the fertility of the land and to welcome the return of summer. As the sun warms the land, our hearts awaken. We feel vital and alive, it is a time of revelry and joy.

Throughout the British Isles and much of northern Europe the traditions of Beltane have evolved deeply entwined with their communities. In most parts, fire plays a predominant role but here in the Cerne Valley our most recent customs have grown around the Giant and the Morris dancers, the ancient chalk landscape and a ceremonial herbal beer.

Begun in 2017, the Festival has now extended to about 3 weeks. With a theme of ‘Celebrating Humanity in the Landscape’, there will be a huge variety of events including workshops, talks, and walks so that there is something for everyone to explore their own connection with landscape of Dorset and what it means to them.

Any profits from the Festival will go towards maintaining the fabric and work of the churches in the participating villages.