- Venue
- St Paul's Actors Church Bedford Street WC2E 9ED
- Starts
- Sunday, May 11, 2025
- Ends
- Monday, May 12, 2025
- Address
- Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ED
- Location
- London
- Organiser
- Alternative Arts
On Sunday 11 May 2025, the much-loved Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet festival will return to its annual venue: the garden of St Paul’s Church, also known as ‘the actors church’, near the spot where Samuel Pepys first saw Mr Punch in England, in May, 1662. Punch & Judy professors and pupeteers from all over the country will be gathering to perform, to celebrate 50 golden years of the festival, which welcomes thousands every year. Importantly, the event will also commemorate Mr Punch’s 363rd birthday, with a grand procession in the morning and a birthday toast, followed by a special church service at noon, where he will take centre stage in the pulpit. The afternoon will present many more performances, workshops, may pole dancing and music. All are invited to come and enjoy the shows and to celebrate the art of puppetry.
Admission is free and the programme is as follows:
11am GRAND PROCESSION
around the neighbourhood of Covent Garden starting from the Church garden led by the Superior Brass Band with a Birthday toast to Mr Punch by the commemorative plaque on the Church wall in the Central Piazza.
12noon SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICE
Mr Punch performs in the pulpit
12.30pm-5.30pm PUNCH & JUDY and PUPPET SHOWS
Puppet workshops, stalls, refreshments, folk music, maypole dancing, clowns.
For more information on the history of the festival, visit alternativearts.org.uk
