May Day Events in Oxford

The May Day Red Light Boiler Ft Special Guest — The May Day Events

May Day Events in Oxford

Oxford comes alive on May Day with the historic May Morning celebrations at dawn, followed by a packed day of activities and several evenings filled with gigs, club nights, and other festivities across the city.

May Morning is an annual event in Oxford, held on 01 May – a tradition that has spanned over 500 years.

The event typically attracts thousands of people – students and residents alike – who begin gathering under the tower, on Magdalen Bridge, and along the High Street from around 5.00am. Students and fellows of Magdalen College also gather in the college cloisters and atop the other towers within the college grounds.

At 6.00am, the Magdalen College Choir sings the Hymnus Eucharisticus, composed by the College’s 17th-century choirmaster Benjamin Rogers, from the top of the 144ft Magdalen Tower. The choir traditionally sings three madrigals, including Now Is the Month of Maying, followed by prayers for the city led by the Dean of Divinity.

Once the choir finishes, the bells ring out a celebratory chime for about 20 minutes. A procession follows from Magdalen Bridge up the High Street into the city centre. From around 6.20am onwards, revelry, dancing, and impromptu music bring Oxford’s communities together for a couple of hours of celebration.

Events in Oxford to celebrate May Day also include a variety of May Day-themed club nights. Popular venues across the city host lively parties, with DJs spinning energetic tunes and live performances, keeping the revelry going well into the night.

These club nights attract both students and locals, eager to celebrate the historic occasion with dancing and fun, making them an unforgettable part of Oxford’s May Day festivities.