Details

he 37th Annual Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival will be held on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 May 2012 to celebrate Mr Punch's 350th birthday near the very spot that Samuel Pepy's first saw Mr Punch in England in May 1662. Punch and Judy ?Professors' and Puppeteers from all over the country and overseas will be arriving to perform. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy the shows and celebrate the art of puppetry. On Saturday 12 May the BIG GRIN BIRTHDAY PARTY will take place from 11am to 5pm in the West Piazza in front of the portico of St Paul's Church. A giant booth will be built to accommodate as many Punch Professors as possible and visitors from overseas will give performances. At 2.30pm there'll be a Punch Parade around the Piazza followed by the cutting of a very Big Birthday cake. At 3.45pm there'll be a photocall of all puppeteers present followed by more performances to 5pm. On Sunday 13 May the ANNUAL COVENT GARDEN MAY FAYRE & PUPPET FESTIVAL will take place in the garden of St Paul's Church from 11am to 5pm and the programme is as follows:- 11am GRAND PROCESSION around the neighbourhood of Covent Garden starting in the Church garden, led by the Superior Brass Band with a toast to Mr Punch by the commemorative plaque in the Piazza. 12noon SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICE led by the Rev Simon Grigg with Mr Punch in the pulpit. 12.30 to 5pm PUNCH & JUDY and PUPPET SHOWS, Puppet Workshops, Stalls, Folk Music by The Lost Marbles String Band, Maypole Dancing and Clowns.