The first Monday of May is a bank holiday in the United Kingdom. It is called May Day in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is known as the Early May bank holiday in Scotland.

Whatever it is called, and whatever the weather, it marks the beginning of the summer – hurray! Traditional activities on May Day are Maypole and Morris Dancing, a May Day parade and crowning ceremonies for May King, Queen, Princes and Princesses.

If you are lucky enough to be in Kent on the bank holiday take the children to Kent Life for the day and join in the traditional May Day celebrations. Watch maypole dancing demonstrations before having a go yourself! There will also be traditional dancing with Invicta Morris – then cheer on the May Day Court (Queen, Princesses, King and Princes) in their annual parade. You can take part in all of these Kent Life events plus Tug-of-War and the very popular Cuddle Corner with some of your favourite animals to hug.

More wonderful animals can be seen at Paradise Wildlife Park where the bank holiday weekend is dedicated to the Tapir. There are four species and sadly, as they are all classed as endangered due to poaching or habitat destruction, they need some help.

Meet the Tapir keeper and hear interesting facts about this large, lovable herbivorous mammal. There will be all kinds of Tapir merchandise to buy and you can feed the Tapirs from outside the enclosure plus you can even go in for £35, but this is first come, first served as there are limited spaces. The Tapir Weekend event is included in the normal entry ticket price. Plus don’t forget Paradise Wildlife discount voucher and save an EXTRA 10% online with our unique Let’s Go code!

There’s May Day fun at Eureka, the National Children’s Museum in Halifax, a May Day family fair at Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport or join the Lord and Lady of the May on Kent Hever Castle where there will be a short play about the traditional story of the battle of the seasons.

If you are in Gloucestershire this weekend and have Thomas the Tank Engine fans in your family, head over to Dean Forest Railway where Thomas and friends will be taking kids for trips plus a host of other fun activities are planned.

There are open days at Amners Farm in Berkshire all week until 7th May where you can take the children to see the lambs and maybe even be lucky to see a lamb being born!

Pirates and chocolate? Why not! Head to Cadbury World where the pirates are taking over this bank holiday weekend with lots of great activities. Children who arrive in pirate gear will be in with a chance of winning prizes too.  There’s jousting at Blenheim Palace, the opportunity to find out about the worst children’s jobs at Cheshire’s Quarry Bank Mill and there are scarecrows to discover at Brockholes Nature Reserve.

Have a wonderful bank holiday.