May Day in Seattle takes two distinct forms. While some take to the streets to march in recognition of International Workers’ Day, others take a more ancient route and gather around maypoles to choose their May King and Queen. I went along to Woodland Park to watch as a group of Seattleites welcomed spring with music, games, dancing and an impressively ornate maypole decked with yards of ribbon.
There were three-legged races, toss the egg competitions, tightrope walking and a good old-fashioned tug ‘o war.
Flower garlands and brightly coloured ribbons reigned supreme; even bicycles joined in the festivities.
But the real spectacle was the raising of the maypole and the weaving of the ribbons as the crowds danced to the thump of live drumming.
What did you do this May Day?
xxx Ailsa
Where's my backpack? 
this post is outstanding! i love every image, the bicycle would make a scrooge smile, and the thought of the tribal thump thump thumping of the drums making the maypole dance warp into a frenzy of color made me laugh! and laugh. how great it must have been to witness that!
It was such fun, Z, a fabulous way to celebrate May 1st. There’s nothing quite like a maypole to bring a big smile to your face. 🙂
Especially that maypole in particular!
Thanks for posting your pictures! We used to go to a wonderful May Day party every year when I was a kid. It was so much fun to grab a ribbon and weave around. 🙂
It’s such a fascinating tradition, I had a whole lot of fun. 🙂
The decorated bicycle is wonderful.
I know, it made me smile 🙂
Oh my, it looks like a big bundle of fun for the whole family! I’ve only seen one Maypole in the German alps but then we missed the festivities.
I just love Maypoles, there’s something so frivolous about them, and the garlands in your hair. 🙂
We went to a nursery and bought flowers…
That’s a good way to say hello to spring, I bet your garden looks great 🙂
Lovely to see THIS May Day in Seattle rather than what made all 3 top news channels last night. Maybe you should send some of these photos into KING, KOMO, and KIRO and show them what a wonderful outdoor celebration May Day can be.
My granddaughter and I made a May Day basket for her parents even though she’s only 8 months old!
I know, Deb, I’m glad I chose to celebrate May Day in Woodland Park rather than downtown! Wow, your granddaughter is getting an early start on crafting, I love it. 🙂
I think you should get the best May 1st award of all time for color, swirling and fun!! This was just mood elevating all around! I would re-blog it but I have only a fraction of your followers so just BRAVO! ♛♛♛ <—- My personal award : )
Yaay, thank you, so glad you enjoyed the twirl around the maypole 🙂
What beautiful pictures! They take me back to when I was a child and we celebrated May Day. It looks like everyone had a wonderful time! 😀
It was a really fun day, the tightrope walking was pretty cool, I was amazed how many kids just hopped on up and were able to walk quite easily along the rope! 🙂
50 years ago, when I was in the 3rd grade, my 3rd grade class practiced for MONTHS to do the MayPole dance for the spring concert and PTA meeting. Dress rehearsal went perfect!!!!! Not so when it came to the actual event. Oh well!!!!! May 1st was also the day we’d as children fill little flower baskets, leave them on people’s porches, ring their door bells and run.
Ooh, I love the idea of answering the door to a flower basket, what a lovely tradition! 🙂
What wonderful images. I find it hard to take photos of crowds – you did a great job. What a great party.
Thanks Pat, crowd scenes are fun but tricky because there’s always someone ready to walk right in front of your camera as you’re taking a shot. 🙂
Looks like such a colorful and festive occasion! Beautiful photos, Ailsa!
Thanks, it was a really fun day. I love maypoles! 🙂
What fun! It reminds me of a Renaissance Fair I went to a thousand years ago. The flowers are so pretty. That ribbon dance must have been a hoot to watch.
It was an absolute hoot, I couldn’t resist joining in too! 🙂
Are you featured in one of the shots? I would have to join in too. 😉
Nope, Gemma, I stayed on the other side of the camera 😉 It was an awful lot of fun, though!
Ok the. I won’t try to figure out which one is you. ;-). Have a dance-filled day!
Each and every pictures are lovely,Alisa..Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Praveena, so glad you enjoyed my little twirl around the maypole 🙂
What a joyous day. Thank you for sharing your adventure! Beautiful photos!
Thanks Pam, I love maypoles, they make spring just a little brighter. 🙂
That Maypole dance was on a scale I haven’t seen before ! Fantastic .
What a joyous way to bring in Spring … you’ve captured some lovely expressions there Ailsa 🙂
It was a pretty large gathering, Poppy, and a massive Maypole, so much fun! 🙂
Great photos ~ so colorful. Happy Spring!
Happy Spring to you too! 🙂
how fantastic ailsa, a wonderful spring celebration!!
I had so much fun, how can you not love ribbons and garlands everywhere 🙂
I used to maypole dance at infant school!
This was my first time, it was so much fun; I may have to do it every year from here on out. 🙂
Oh, what fun, takes me back to my schooldays!
We never did this at school, Sue, how fantastic that you did! 🙂
Wonderful photos, so colorful so happy days… 🙂 😉
It was a very happy day, Drake 🙂
Wow….riot of emotions and colour !! Reminds me of my days in Seattle and Bellevue
I read that the celebration in Seattle turned violent. Hopefully this is not the one.
It wasn’t anywhere near here, Dorothy, thankfully. There were a handful of troublemakers at the downtown rally that started kicking off. As far as I know, there were more reporters than rioters, the media usually blows things way out of proportion.
unfortunately I thought it was still April 😦 I want a bike like that and might just make one!
This looks incredibly fun!
How wonderful! I wonder why we never do this here. This would seem more like a small town thing than a big city thing. Although the turnout is more certain. One day I would like to take part in such festivities (take part aka take pictures, haha)
Colorful maypoles on display in your series. Nicely done. Did you find your backpack among the crowds?
I thought I spotted it on the back of that flower-bedecked bike, but it turned out to be someone else’s. 😉
Nice post! Good photos! Happy Summer!
Shades of my Yorkshire childhood! How I loved May Day and the Maypole dancing, the games, the fete, the feasting. Good that these traditions continue throughout the world.
Lovely post – I’m wallowing in nostalgia!.
Such a wonderful tradition, so glad I could bring back some happy memories for your wallowing pleasure 🙂
What a lovely way of celebrating! I have never seen such a Maypole with all those threads and weaving them together – interesting! Thank you for a most wonderful post!
When I was in elementary school I used to participate in the pole weaving – but I don’t remember anyone getting stuck in the middle! We used to rehearse for hours so that the ribbons wouldn’t get tangled. Must have been very frustrating for the teacher!
Thanks for your positive post! I was out of town on May day this year and the news made it all sound like Seattle area people are crazy anarchists and violent people. I know they are a minority, but this post made me happy. Its great to see people celebrating and having fun and being NICE. (NW tradition!)
Have to love that bike …. Brilliant photos of a very fun and colorful festival. We put flowers in your hair on Midsummer. The photos with all the ribbons are excellent. Your so talent with your camera.
awesome shots!! looks like it was fun!
Fabulous images and oh what fun!
Loved to read about May Day in Seatle! Some traditions sound similar to those in the UK strangely enough. fab photos. Enjoyed reading all about it. great blog. Kath Luxton