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October Plenty

After much consideration the Lions part have made the very sad and difficult decision to end October Plenty celebrations on London's Bankside.

If circumstances were to change in future years, we may revisit this decision, but for now, our October Plenty celebrations are no longer sustainable.

The reasons are many and various and all have been diligently thought through by the company to be sure of this tough decision.

Our aspiration is that our October Plenty Corn Queene, The Berry Man, John Barleycorn and all the joy following them, will spring up again once more, perhaps somewhere else in England!

We will let you know.


We wish to unreservedly thank each and every person and organisation who has given support and commitment to the Lions part festivals over the years and helped us keep this much-loved festival alive for nearly a quarter of a century.





Previous October Plenty events & highlights:

TheCorn Queene

THE CORN QUEENE

Heavy with wheat, fruit & vegetables, the magnificent CORN QUEENE will appear in procession in front of the Globe with our company of actors, along with the traditional HOBBY HORSE.

The procession

THE PROCESSION, MUSIC & DANCING

Join the procession of music, flags and spectacle through the streets to the historic BOROUGH MARKET. Leading us is the extraordinary BERRY MAN, the autumnal Green Man, decked with wild fruits & foliage. See the Borough Market's bright Market Hall come alive with festivity whilst savouring and sampling the food, cider and apple juice on offer from this famous food market.

THE PLAY

This year the Lions part heartily welcomes The Fabularium with their boisterous Fabularium Fables the release of their Flock of Sheep into the Market.

MUSIC & DANCING

See the Ravensbourne Morris dancers amidst the festivities, the time honoured Redding Moreys and Shakespeare's Goddesses in splendour. Catch the Berry Man and company for a conker fight.

Watch the infamous EXECUTION OF JOHN BARLEYCORN and Dance the Hay with us followed by the traditional stripping of the CORN QUEENE.

The Story Orchard

THE STORY ORCHARD

All afternoon a little orchard of young apple trees creates a space for storytelling for children of all ages about food, magic & harvest. Our beloved master storyteller Pat Ryan joins us once again.

CROSSBONES GRAVEYARD

At the end of the festivities join us to visit & decorate the extraordinary gates of Crossbones Graveyard in Red Cross Way and contemplate the quiet of the Graveyard with us.

OCTOBER PLENTY is FREE, FUN and PHOTO-FRIENDLY for ALL THE FAMILY.

Warmest wishes for the autumn season,
the Lions part

Lift up your hearts, your voices and feet!


Keep an eye on our facebook and twitter feeds, our Instagram Account, our Youtube Channel and this website for news.





View our photo gallery of past October Plenty events


The Corn Queene


Over 20 years ago, fired with enthusiasm for amazing autumn festivies that people celebrated world wide and influenced by the organisation Common Ground, whose creation of Apple Day has inspired so many, I gathered with local friends and members of the Lions part and we launched October Plenty. At the heart of it was the iconic Corn Queene. Since then, in collaboration with Roots and Shoots, Lambeth, through David Perkins and Sarah Wilson, she has become an annual wonder. This, her 'Natural History' written by David, offers you all her qualities: enjoy!

Click here to download "The Corn Queene Natural History", by David Perkins.

If you like this booklet, we would welcome a suggested voluntary donation of £5

Click here to donate

Make a Donation

the Lions part is a charity which survives on donations and one-off grants. Thanks to the Arts Council England Emergency Covid-19 Fund 2020, we were given a little bit of a breathing space for one year!
If you would like to make a regular or a one-off donation towards our future work, Please click here

Thank you!!