Midsomer Norton residents and visitors are being invited to join in with our annual wassail celebration on 3rd February – crowning wassail kings and queens, making a traditional toast, and 'waking up' the apple trees for the year's harvest.

From 10am – 12pm, come along to Unit 14 (14 South Road, opposite South Road Car Park) to take part in free activities. As well as face painting there will be family workshops including:

·      Bird Box Building – Come join Somer Valley Rediscovered & Bath College for a nest box building workshop and build your own nest box that will be put up in the Somer Valley Green Space.

·      Willow Weaving Dragonflies – Using locally sourced willow from Somerset, you will learn the fundamentals of willow weaving, taking home your own beautifully handcrafted dragonfly! This workshop is being led by EcoWild.

·      Noise Makers - Join Studio Meraki for a drop in workshop to make 'Noise Makers' to play in the Wassail procession and help wake the trees in time for spring. All ages welcome and all materials provided. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Official proceedings will commence at 12pm outside Unit 14. Master of Ceremonies, Trevor Hughes, the Cam Valley Morris Men, musicians and the Langport Mummers will lead us in procession to the entrance of the Town Park.

The afternoon's entertainment will include a folk play, Morris dancing and the wassail ceremony.

At the destination, you will be able to enjoy cider, apple cake, hog roast and ice cream.

Participants are invited to bring along pots, pans, bells and whistles to make a hullabaloo and ward off evil spirits! Costume is also encouraged – we suggest lots of ivy, green face paint, and colourful bohemian clothes.

The event is being run by the Midsomer Norton Community Trust as part of Midsomer Norton's Local Cultural Programme, funded by Historic England as part of the Midsomer Norton High Street Heritage Action Zone. It is free to attend and open to everyone.

More information is available at www.mnct.co.uk/wassailing