The Open Meeting held on Sunday was a incredible success with hundreds of volunteers attending and signing up to take part in this year’s festival. We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone that came along and to all the Group Organisers who shared their visions for our 30th.
We are happy to announce that since Sunday, we have now found Group Organisers for two of the most important groups in Beltane – Bower and the Stewards.
Long-time Beltane members, Fenland and Alex Fitzgerald, will be looking after the Bower, the ‘Home on The Hill’, which is the start of the event for some and the end of the event for all. They are looking for people willing to take on roles to support this community space, whether or not you have been part of Beltane before. They will normally be meeting on Sundays at 1pm with their first meeting taking place in the Regent Pub, Abbeymount. For more information, email them at bower[at]Beltane[dot]org
Experienced steward and production team member, Danielle Christie will be GO for the Stewards. Stewards are the friendly human face of Beltane Fire Society and they’d like to invite you to join them. If you want to take part in the festival but don’t have a huge amount of time or aren’t into performance, Stewards could be the perfect place for you. In exchange for a couple of hours on your Sunday afternoons for training and general fun (plus one unforgettable Sunday night!), you will get the best seats in the house to one of Edinburgh’s premier outdoor performances and meet amazing and creative people from around the world!
This Sunday (5th March) they’ll be meeting on Calton Hill at 2pm, the meeting will likely run to 5pm and a trip to the pub will be happening afterwards. You’re welcome to just show up or you can get in touch by emailing stewards[at]beltane[dot]org. If you have partners, friend, family members, or flatmates who would like to get involved in the festival, please feel free to pass this information onto them!
Sunday was also the first opportunity that many of you had to meet our new Green Man. A dancer, capoeirista, performance-rigger and remedial therapist, we’re so pleased to welcome Will into his role and look forward to seeing what he will bring to our 30th Green Man. You can find out more about him on our Beltane Court 2017 page.
On the subject of the Green Man, one of our new groups for 2017, the Evergreens also need your help. Their group this year will be made up of “those who have previously portrayed the natural cycle of birth growth and death as the Green Man at Beltane or one of the Kings at Samhuinn”, but their records are incomplete. If you know someone that has been a Green Man or a King (or you have been one yourself) can you get in touch with Tom and Rob at evergreens[at]beltane[dot]org
And finally, Reds have been struck by chaos already, and lost some of the sign-ups to technical difficulties. If you signed up but haven’t received an email invitation to their open practice or if you couldn’t make the Open Meeting but would still like to try out for Reds then please drop them an email at reds[at]beltane[dot]org
The 30th Beltane Fire Festival is well and truly on its way to the greatest celebration yet. None of it would be possible with you, our members. So thanks once again… We can’t wait to see you on The Hill!
If you’re not planning on taking part, and want to be part of the audience of Beltane Fire Festival 2017, tickets are available to buy online from Tickets Scotland.
Photo of our friendly stewards by Photopoint GO, Mark Taylor.
Beltane Fire Society 