Randwick Wap
Saturday 10 May 2025
The Randwick Wap returns on 10 May for a vibrant celebration of Gloucestershire’s heritage and community spirit. Held in the hillside village of Randwick, this much-loved spring festival is packed with tradition, colour, and entertainment for all ages.
The festivities begin at 12:30 PM with a lively, costumed procession from the War Memorial, leading the newly elected Wap Mayor and Wap Queen to the Mayor’s Pool for their official anointing. The procession then makes its way to the village green, where an afternoon of music, maypole dancing, food, crafts, and family-friendly fun awaits.
The week before Wap Day, on the first Sunday of May, a special service takes place at St. Mary’s Church where three Double Gloucester cheeses are blessed and rolled widdershins (anti-clockwise) around the churchyard. Two of these are saved for the cheese rolling down the Well Lease, led by the Mayor and Queen as part of the ceremonial duties on Wap Day.
The word “Wap” is thought to come from the Saxon “wapenshaw,” meaning a show of arms. Though the event was halted in the 19th century due to its once-rowdy nature, it was revived in 1972 by Rev. Niall Morrison and has since become a cherished village tradition.
Visitors are warmly welcomed to experience this unique blend of medieval pageantry and contemporary festivity, all set against the backdrop of the Stroud countryside.
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