Wassail

Frome’s wassail is back for its second year at Weylands. This traditional midwinter ceremony has been practised since Saxon times in cider-producing regions designed to ‘wake up’ the trees and scare away bad spirits to ensure a good fruit harvest in the autumn.

This years wassail will once again include music from the Frome Street Bandits, a procession to the trees to gift cider and toast and craft activities for children. There will also be mulled cider from Dowding’s and refreshments for sale.

An added twist for 2024 is that the event will host auditions to replace Frome’s town crier Mike Bishop. The selection process will include writing and reading out a short-wassail-themed ‘cry’ and trying out the crier’s bell!