Celebrate ’Shakespeare Day’ in Stratford-upon-Avon

Every year Stratford-upon-Avon celebrates Shakespeare’s birthday on the weekend closest to it, bringing together performers, artists, the local community and ambassadors from around the world in a vibrant celebration of the life and works of William Shakespeare.

This Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26, remember the legacy of William Shakespeare, playwright and poet, by visiting his hometown and celebrating his 451st birthday. Here’s a quick guide to what’s happening:

Saturday 25 April:

At 10:30am join the Shakespeare Birthday Parade with Shakespeare’s enormous, 3 metre-wide, horse-drawn cake proudly paraded through town with the icing design inspired by the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, concluding with the flag unfurling ceremony. At 12:00pm have lunch at the Avonbank Gardens as part of the Shakespeare Birthday Luncheon. Continue on to the Waterside at 12:30pm for some of Stratford College’s catering and carpentry staff and students’ Shakespeare-inspired birthday cupcakes. At 1:00PM you can join the crowd and visit the grave of William Shakespeare. For families with children under 5, you can join the Knights & Nymphs toddler party at Hall’s Croft Gardens from 1:00 - 2:00pm.

Sunday 26 April:

At 9:00am take part in the Shakespeare Marathon and Half Marathon, starting in Church Street and finishing in the recreation ground. At 11:00am through to 4:00pm visit Shakespeare’s schoolroom in Shakespeare’s King

Edward VI School. At 4:00pm conclude birthday celebrations at ‘The Birthday Bash’, held at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

The commemorative two day event has taken place since 1824, wherein the town’s streets overflow with music, pageantry and drama. Do not miss the festivities taking place at the five Shakespeare houses this weekend!