What is May Faire?

Following in the footsteps of long-held traditions around the world, May Faire is a time of joyous celebration in the return of the sunshine and warm weather. It is also a wonderful time for renewing connections to our community, as we all emerge from the feelings of winter hibernation with fresh energy and hearts open with the vibrancy of the season.

We are excited to host this much beloved all-school May Faire celebration, happening from 10am-12pm on Saturday, May 4th! See the schedule below.

Schedule of Events

10am: Families arrive. Children in K-5 go to their classrooms. All other attendees head to the playground to find your spot and socialize.

10:30am: May Faire Parade and May Pole Dances.

11:15am: Plant Sale, school store, and socializing resume with face painting!

12:15pm: All festivities end. Clean up time!

Join Us on May 4th!

May Faire is an event for the whole school: grades K-5 make May Crowns and walk in the May Court Parade, four students from 4th grade are the May Faire Courtiers who flank the parade, grades 3-5 perform weaving dances around the May Pole, grade 6 holds the Annual Plant Sale, and grades 7 and 8 are volunteers throughout the day.  Families can attend the plant sale and school store, and fundraising table both before and after the May Faire dancing. We'll also have face painting!

Image of plant seedlings

Important Details for May Faire

  • Volunteer: This important springtime sharing of music and dance in the celebration of newness and rebirth is volunteer powered! There are several volunteer opportunities leading up to and during May Faire.
    • Click here for May 3rd and 4th volunteer opportunities
    • Click here to help with harvest and/or weaving willow crowns- you do NOT need to be a verified volunteer for these roles.
  • K-5 students will arrive at 10am and go directly to their classrooms. After sending their students inside, families will head to the playground to find their seat and socialize.
  • Please bring water bottles. We will have water jugs available for refills.
  • Watch the weather and dress accordingly! Historically, the day of May Faire has been quite hot and sunny. Please wear a sunhat. There is little shade available on the playground.
  • Please bring either a blanket or low backed chairs for seating.
  • Cash, check, and credit cards will be accepted for the plant sale and school store.

Other May Faire Information

  • The fourth grade class holds a Chicken Circle in the weeks leading up to May Faire to choose the May Courtiers. The Chicken Circle is a quiet event where the students sit silently in a circle with grain in their hands. In the middle, a chicken is placed. The chicken then roams the circle and the first two students to have the chicken eat from their hands are the two May Courtiers.
  • The 3rd-5th grade classes have been practicing their May Faire dances for weeks. They are encouraged to feel the dance as opposed to learn the weaving. When students lean into the dancing, the weaving is the beautiful result.
  • The 6th grade students are currently learning Business Math. What better way to put their new skills to use than by helping Ms. Jackson run the plant sale?
  • The School Store will have Mountain Sage t-shirts and mugs available for purchase. Show your Mountain Sage pride with some schwag!
  • 8th grade students will be offering free face painting after the May Faire dances have finished.

Dance and Sing

The First of May, featuring Ms. Addington's 1st Grade

Good morning lords and ladies, it is the first of May,
We hope you'll view our garland, it is so bright and gay,
For it is the first of May, oh it is the first of May,
Remember lords and ladies, it is the first of May!

We gathered them this morning all in the early dew,
And now we bring their beauty and fragrance all for you,
For it is the first of My, oh it is the first of May!
Remember lords and ladies, it is the first of May!

The cuckoo comes in April, it sings its song in May,
In June it changes tune, in July it flies away,
For it is the first of May, oh it is the first of May,
Remember lords and ladies, it is the first of May!

And now you've seen our garland and we must be on our way,
So remember lords and ladies, it is the first of May,
For it is the first of May, oh it is the first of May,
Remember lords and ladies, it is the first of May!

Hey Ho To The Greenwood

Hey Ho to the Greenwood
Now let us go
Sing heave and ho
And there shall we find both buck and doe
Sing heave and ho
The hart, the hind and the little pretty roe
Sing heave and ho

Mari's Wedding

Step we gaily, on we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm in arm and row on row
All for Mari's wedding

Over hillways up and down
Myrtle green and bracken brown
Past the shielings through the town
All for the sake of Mari

The Wheel of the Year

The wheel of the year is turning,
And the homeland fires are burning,
So give your hand,
And take your brand,
To kindle your own hearth's yearning. 

Other Songs to Sing in May

Arise

Arise in the sweet spring time
And greet the summer sun
Take my hand and go with me
The flowering has begun
Oh the flowering has begun
Arise, arise and dance with me
Arise and dance and sing
Arise, arise and dance with me
Arise and dance and sing

Come Dance 'round the Maypole

Come Dance ‘round the Maypole on this bright day
To the sound of the fiddler so happy and gay
For we are as happy as happy can be
For today is May Day come dance with me

Hal An Tow - performed by Sharon Docherty

Hal an tow, jolly ramble o
We were up long before the day-O
To welcome in the summer
To welcome in the May-O
For summer is a comin’ and the winter’s gone away-O

May Song

Here’s a branch of snowy May
A branch the fairies gave me
Would you like to dance today with a branch the fairies gave me?
Dance away, dance away
Holding high the branch of May

The Annual Plant Sale

The Mountain Sage Gardening program is excited to host our annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 4, after May Faire festivities. The Plant Sale will run from 11:15am-12:15pm.

Please bring a box to transport your seedlings. Proceeds will benefit the gardening program.

Students have been planting and tending a variety of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs for the community to enjoy. First come, first served. We are pleased to announce the return of the strawberry sale! We’ll have 3 types of strawberries that bloom at different times during the summer.

Contact Ms. Jackson for more information.

Plant Sale Inventory