Local businesses and organisations are being urged to get involved to help make Oxford’s May Morning celebrations bigger and better as it returns as a live event after a two-year hiatus.

The city council has launched a crowdfunder and businesses offering products or services to be used as gifts in the campaign will be acknowledged as key supporters.

The city’s May Morning celebrations have traditionally taken place from the top of Magdalen College Tower for centuries.

The pandemic has meant the event had to be experienced distantly and online.

Thousands of people wait at dawn on Magdalen Bridge and its surroundings on May 1 for the choristers to sing Hymnus Eucharisticus, a 17th Century Latin hymn.

In 2022, the choir will sing live once more, welcoming people back to the city as they gather at the foot of the tower.

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And this year, the city council wants to create a specially festive event and revive the tradition of decorating the bridge to welcome the Spring.

The money raised by the Crowdfunder will be spent on commissioning artists to create artworks to decorate Magdalen Bridge, running a community competition and manufacturing artworks and products for the event.

Local business gift givers will receive free advertising in street displays as well as in printed and online publicity. 

Paula Redway, culture and community development manager at Oxford City Council, said: “Coming out of the difficult past couple of years, this year’s May Day celebrations are more important than ever.

"Marking May Morning with this added flourish will show our strength, our sense of fun and revive a past tradition where children used to adorn the bridge with floral art and ribbons.”

To become a May Morning 2022 supporter or sponsor, contact Maria Clark at mclark@oxford.gov.uk