The year is flying by, and plans for this year’s Malvern Water and Well Dressing Festival are in full swing. As always, that means well dressings, blessings, art, music, dance, and much May Day revelry!
We hope you will be able to visit some, if not all, of the dressed springs and wells (up to 60 sites this year, the theme is Folklore and Fairytales), and enjoy the various festivities and events which are being arranged in and around the town. See our tips on visiting the dressings here.
The Festival kicks off on Thursday 1st May with a lunchtime talk by MSA President Carly Tinkler on the history and future of Malvern Water in aid of the Mayor’s chosen charity Heart Start at Malvern Town Council’s offices in Victoria Park.
Dressings will go up on Friday 2nd May, and most will remain up for at least a week. On Monday 5th May, the hugely popular water-themed event will return to Priory Park.
Details of the main events are listed below, but others will be announced during the lead-up to the festival, so keep your eye on social and other media.
Main Events Timetable 2025
Note that some events / times below may change at short notice especially if subject to weather.
Thursday 1st May
12:30 – 13:30 Malvern Water: One Billion Years: illustrated talk by MSA President: Park View Community Room, Malvern Town Council, Victoria Park, Malvern Link.
Friday 2nd May
Well dressing day
Saturday 3rd May
Dawn Ceremony at Dripping Well with Jonathan Penley. Meet at St Anne’s Well 4.45 am
08.30 Blessing at St James’s Church Spring, West Malvern with Revd Becky Elliott
Well dressing judging
10.30am & 2.30pm minibus tours of dressed wells (depart Rosebank Gardens)
Boffy Malvern Arts market in Great Malvern Priory churchyard grounds
12pm SongS P A C E Family Singers Rosebank Gardens
4pm blessing Malvhina, Belle Vue Island with Revd Roger Latham
Sunday 4th May
11.30am & 2.30pm minibus tours of dressed wells (depart Rosebank Gardens)
2pm Rainbow Guardians Ceremony at Hayslad Spout, West Malvern Road
Monday 5th May
10.30am & 2.30pm minibus tours of dressed wells (depart Rosebank Gardens)
En Plein Air art event in town all day, 3.30 – 5pm free pop-up exhibition / sales Malvern Theatres
10am – 5pm Water Festival Family Fun Day in Priory Park, including food & drinks: stalls, vans, MSA tea-tent, activities for children & adults.
- 11am – 12.30pm Maypole and Morris dancing by So Xsighted.
- 1 – 1.45pm live music: Journeyman.
- 2pm well dressing prize-giving at the bandstand.
- 3 – 3.30pm live music: Journeyman.
- 3.45pm Malvern Samba Band
Tuesday 6th May
10.30am & 2.30pm minibus tours of dressed wells (depart Rosebank Gardens)
Wednesday 7th May
Some well dressings may be dismantled
Thursday 8th May
Hawthorn & Hare Morris at Lower Wyche Spout
Saturday 10th
10.30 – 11.30 Purple Heart Song Circle at St. Ann’s Well
Sunday 11th May
Dressings fully dismantled
2.30pm closing ceremony at North Malvern Clock Tower with Paul Sandover Malvern InterFaith
More information
You’ll find all the information you need and more by following the links below, but do keep an eye out for updates on this website, and social and other media, especially:
- https://www.visitthemalverns.org
- https://www.facebook.com/malvernwelldressing
- https://www.facebook.com/share/1Beg7NB8Qg
Best wishes,
Carly Tinkler
MSA President