HACKNEY WASSAIL 2026
SUNDAY 11th JANUARY
NOTE NEW START TIMES – all times are approximate, but as we’ve been getting more folks along, it takes longer to walk between wassails!
COME FOR THE WHOLE WASSAIL, OR JOIN US AT ONE OF THE ORCHARDS
We will be joined by folks from Trudgepig Folk Theatre for a spot of horsing about – not to be missed!
Join us at the start on Hackney Downs, the halfway point at Millfields Park, or our final stop at Springfield Park. It’s roughly a 30-minute stroll between locations. The whole route is about two and half miles. Children and dogs welcome.
Maps and w3w info for the three Orchards
12.00 We start at Hackney Downs community orchard. The orchard is in the north west corner of the Downs, just off Downs Road.
13:15 Meet at community orchard at Millfields Park. The orchard is in the east of the Park, near the River Lea bridge for the filter beds. We do it all again!
14.45 Meet at Springfield Park’s community orchard for the final repeat – The orchard is pretty much in the middle of the Park. If you come in the main entrance on Springfield, pass the White House building on your left and walk straight down on the path just to above the tennis courts, about 5 minutes. Springfield Park Cafe (and toilets) is open on Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
15:30 Share food, drink and chat
What’s a Wassail?
Our urban wassail draws on the old tradition of waking the apple trees from their winter sleep, to ensure a good harvest for the year ahead. It’s just a fun way to spend some time, all faiths and none are welcome.
Your bit Expect to be invited to join in with some singing, hearty and loud and no skills required! Or just join us for the craic. We provide some song sheets, and some warm cider, apple juice and apple themed nibbles may appear. Please bring some little thing to share too if you can, bringing your own cup would be great, too, though we have paper ones.
We’d also like it if people brought whistles and rattles and other things for making some noise. Feel free to sport an ivy crown, or dress up..but whatever you do, dress warm!
It’s FREE to come along, but at each location we’ll be taking a collection to cover costs, and any extra will be donated to NLAH – North London Action for the Homeless.
Our song words are here on the website so you can use your phone on the day (we have a QR code to take you there too). For folk who are happier with paper, we’ll have printed sheets available on the day. Or you can download or print your own Songsheet
Any queries please WhatsApp or text Annie on 07970 573870