The Shepherdstown May Day celebration - a FREE COMMUNITY EVENT - began almost seventeen years ago, and today is one of the last two remaining Maypole festivals in the country.  The event takes place in downtown, historic Shepherdstown WV on Saturday, May 3rd and begins with the search for the Golden Arrow.  The search starts at On the Wings of Dreams gift shop, located at the top of the hill on German Street, at 10:30am.  There children will find their first clue as to the whereabouts of the Golden Arrow.  The clues, which are riddles, will lead the children from one shop to another until at last the Golden Arrow is found!

Then, at 11:30am, parade participants will begin to line up by the Episcopal Church on German Street.  All are invited to participate in the parade.  Participants may fill a wheelbarrow with spring flowers and wheel it; adorn themselves and their pets in pastels with ribbons, flowers, greenery and even wings; decorate a bike, stroller or wagon and ride in the parade; wave a branch of greenery with flowing ribbons attached; blow bubbles; flutter a homemade flag or banner celebrating spring or Mother Earth; carry a Maypole, giant puppet or earth globe; dance and twirl; dress up as the Green Man, a woodland elf or any character that reflects the joy of spring and the celebration of life and community; play a drum, blow a whistle, juggle or even ride a unicycle! 

The parade will begin at noon and proceed down German Street to the center of town.  There on the lawn of Shepherd University's McMurran Hall, the wrapping of the Maypole, a ceremony that harkens back to days gone by, will take place and the town will abound with maidens bejeweled in flowers and dressed in white, Morris dancers performing, musicians playing music, families picnicking and dancing, Shepherdstown's Green Man heralding in spring and the community at large celebrating life and all that's beautiful. 

Live music by Don Oehser, The Corsettes, Todd Coyle and others will take place from 10:30am to 2:30pm on the steps of McMurran Hall.   Town poets will gather beneath the Maypole to share original poetry, and stories of spring will be told. 

From 3:00pm to 4:00pm, and then again from 5:00pm to 6:00pm, a Morris Stand will take place on King Street next to McMurran Hall.  Morris dancing is a traditional English dance that dates back to medieval times.  And, watching the Morris team dancing in their wooden-soled clogs and kits of purple and teal is one of the highlights of this annual event. 

For more information, contact Laura First at 301-639-4846 or laura9first@...  or Cheryl Mansley at 304-702-0554 or riverhousemusic@....  Those participating in the parade should ask for Laura First, Ardyth Gilbertson or Cheryl Mansley when they arrive to line up for the parade at 11:30am.