What you can expect
37 UK sword dance teams have now confirmed their participation, meaning we have regretfully had to close our entries to any further teams. However, it's still not too late for individuals to join in, although places are strictly limited.
These will be matched by no less than 15 groups from overseas, both from mainland Europe and the USA.
Our base - We have an excellent modern site within easy reach of the city centre. We will send you details when you book your Sword Spectacular ticket.
Campsite - open from 5pm on Friday 23 May until 12 noon on Monday 26 May - please do not arrive before the site opens as the school will still be in operation.
The facilities are excellent with good, flat camping for tents, camper vans and caravans. Please note this is not a commercial campsite and does not have electric hook-up facilities, etc. For camper vans and caravans, there is an area of hard standing. Please note that, in the event of very wet weather, we may ask you not to take your cars onto the camping field. However, there is plenty of parking nearby.
We ask campers to respect that this is a residential area and we ask you to keep noise to a minimum, particularly late at night.
Bed & Breakfast/Hotel Accommodation - This type of accommodation is plentiful in York but our school base is a residential suburb and you are advised to look nearer to the centre. A good place to start is the Visit York website.
Activities - this site will host various activities:
Friday 23 May - opening reception night with late real ale bar, an opportunity to gather with friends old and new. The Sword Dance Union hopes to arrange some displays of sword dancing information, memorabilia, etc.
A highlight of the evening will be the 'Pub Lottery' where we draw lots for which pubs the rapper teams can dance in (or try to!). The pubs will be graded into 'regular spots', 'more difficult' and 'challenge'
Earlier in the day there will be opportunities for UK teams to perform with young people in a limited schools event - please contact the organisers if you would to participate.
Saturday 24 May - beginning with a parade of teams to dance locations at 10.30am, there will be dancing in York City Centre until around 4pm. A representative of each team is invited to a Civic Reception with the Lord Mayor of York and invited guests at 4.30pm - please note space limitations severely restrict the numbers we can invite.
Ceilidh - for festival ticket participants with Hekety back at the school, from 8pm - caller Roy Atkinson. Real ale bar open 6pm-1am. IMPORTANT: There will be strict limit of 499 on this event at any one time and a stewarded one-out, one-in system will operate.
Sunday 25 May - The morning will offer a choice of workshops in various styles of sword dancing, including longsword for young people. The Sword Dance Union is kindly organising a number of talks on sword dancing at the same time. Details will be available nearer the time.
Dancing in York City Centre will take place from 12 noon-4pm, followed by a Gala Concert of all the teams present, provisionally in the Theatre Royal, until 9pm. This will feature performances by all five surviving traditional sword teams in England - possibly a unique occasion.
This will be followed by a D-I-Y ceilidh, at the school from 9.30 approx until late, again with a late bar. One of the great successes of previous Sword Spectaculars, this year's band will be led by the Kingsmen musicians and guests - please see them on the weekend if you would like to join the band. Guest callers are also welcome.
Monday 26 May - A relaxed end-of-festival lunchtime performance at nearby Haxby, an original Longsword village, to round the festival off in style. This will include performances of all five local Longsword dances form the York Area - Askham Richard, Escrick, Poppleton, Riccall and, of course, Haxby. The event will close with a workshop on the Haxby dance for all comers at the village hall at 2.30pm.