Egginton Willow Festival - April 25^th and 26^th, 2009

Egginton staged its third Willow Festival over the weekend of 25th / 26th April 2009 Egginton was an important centre of willow production until about 100 years ago; 17 osier beds covering around 20 acres were regularly cropped. Most of the villagers were involved in the arduous task of harvesting and stripping the willow, and when this was completed around late April, the villagers would celebrate with an Osier Feast (osier is a particular sort of willow much favoured for basket making). We call our revival events Willow Festivals.

At this year’s Willow Festival people were invited to decorate willow wands prior to the opening ceremony. Miss Jordan Allan was crowned Willow Princess, and a mysterious green man led a parade through the village to the lodge triangle, followed by the Bare Bones Morris Team and the public. Wands were hung in the tree or stuck in the ground and wishes were made. A bar and a whole host of stalls did brisk trade in Willow Hall. Piano music was played in the entrance of the Hall from 3.15pm to accompany cream teas. A ghostly guided tour set off visiting haunted sites around the village, such as Fishpond Lane where the Egginton Spectre appeared around 1729.

Around 180 dancers attended the great barn dance that took place in Willow Hall that evening. Dancing was to the Gan Ainm band, with pork cobs and ale for sustenance.

The Sunday morning service at St Wilfrids Church had a Celtic theme.

Throughout the weekend, the story of willow harvesting, its use and other aspects of country life was displayed in the Church, together with a history of 20th Century Egginton, focussing on employment patterns over the years. Around the village, light hearted decoration was provided by the residents.

The Willow Festival was a huge success and people came from far and wide to take part in our celebrations. The Church gained some £200 in sales and donations, and the £1,000 profit from the Festival will soon be used to support worthy local initiatives.

We hope to stage another Festival in the Spring of 2011.