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nleash your English spirit this St George’s Day on 23 April with these fun-packed events celebrating the life of the patron saint of England.  
 

Dragon duels and knight battles

Leicester will be celebrating St George’s Day with a one day festival filled with fun activities for dashing knights and fair maidens. You can brush up on your maypole dancing skills, get your face painted and enjoy a re-enactment of St George slaying the dastardly dragon and rescuing the damsel in distress.
 

Nottingham will mark England’s National Day with a St George’s Day Parade, where St George himself will lead a crowd of costumed characters and a marching band through the city centre to the Old Market Square. There will also be a bouncy castle, knight battles, folk dance and traditional music and a wide selection of tempting food and drink stalls to keep you entertained for the rest of the day.
 

Head to Belsay Hall, Castle & Gardens in Northumberland for the Medieval St George’s Weekend, where you can join the townsfolk, nobles and musicians in their celebration of the English saint’s life. You will be treated to a re-enactment of St George’s battle with his famous foe, plus plays and medieval music throughout the weekend.
 

Over in London town, the V&A Museum of Childhood will be celebrating St George’s Day with a day of English merriment. The whole family will enjoy a host of fun things to do such as music and dancing, storytelling, traditional games, and arts and crafts sessions - you could even make your very own dragon mask to take home!
 

Fly the flag with pride

Grab your flag and make your way to Downham Market in West Norfolk for the annual St George’s Day Celebrations, where you can wave it with pride as you enjoy the St George’s parade held in honour of the dragon-slayer.
 

Birmingham will be flying the flag for St George’s Day with a family festival in its city centre, boasting an array of fun activities that range from thrilling rides, Morris dancing and quintessential English nosh.
 

Liverpool will be hosting its very first St George’s Day event with historical re-enactments, medieval combat, courtly dancing and music. Other highlights include a fun fair, various themed stalls serving a variety of food and drink, and if the weather isn’t kind to you on the day, there will be lots of indoor activities including story-telling, costume dressing, art workshops and a knight’s trail to entertain you and the kids.
 

Grab your sword and join the St George’s Day celebrations at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire, where you will be enraptured as you witness the skills of medieval jousting knights and cheer on your favourite; children can flex their acting skills in the interactive theatre, and immerse yourself in history as you wander through a range of historic campsites.
 

If you fancy meeting the dragon slayer himself, head over to Conisbrough Castle in Doncaster, where St George will recount the tale of how he defeated the famous dragon, and teach you the tricks in case you come across one yourself.
 

The Birthday Bard

Did you know that St George’s Day is also William Shakespeare’s birthday? This year, the famous playwright would have been 449, so Stratford-Upon-Avon his place of birth, will be celebrating the Bard of Avon's birthday with its annual weekend long festival. Highlights will include a series of pageants, performances and a fun-packed programme of special activities celebrating his life and works.