Saturday 26 April, 2025

9:45am Band entertains assembling crowds at the top of Bridge Street and returns to Sheep Street to lead the VIP procession.

10:30am The town’s primary school children gather in Waterside outside the Encore. Led by the Air Training Corps Band (ATC), they assemble in upper Bridge Street for the arrival of the procession.

10:35am – Dignitaries, Diplomats and Guests parade to flag positions in Bridge Street and High Street.

10:46am – ‘Mr Shakespeare’ reaches the arena from the Birthplace, having collected the Quill. The Beadle and Town Criers will chorus “Hip, Hip, Hooray”. ‘Let the Celebrations Begin’ Mr Shakespeare holds up the Quill, followed by a fanfare.

11:00am – The Union Flag is unfurled by the Lord Lieutenant. All flags will then be unfurled simultaneously thereafter. The National Anthem will immediately follow.

11:04am – The Shakespeare Club of Stratford-upon-Avon, the oldest Shakespeare Society in the world, will lead the Birthday Parade behind the band of the Air Training Corps. Students from King Edward VI Schools and local primary schools children will follow.

11:20am – The WMFS Band will accompany the Civic Procession and other guests from Bridge Street and adjoining streets, along High Street, Chapel Street, Church Street and Old Town to the church.

11:28am – The Compere invites spectators, intent on going to church to lay flowers, to join the end of the Procession as it moves into High Street. Shakespeare Morris will follow.

11:40am – The Procession will pass through Holy Trinity Church, depositing flowers at Shakespeare’s grave.

Sunday 27 April, 2025

11:15am – The Shakespeare Service in Holy Trinity Church, during which the Quill will be received and placed in the hand of Shakespeare above his grave, includes the preaching of the Shakespeare Sermon.

All timings stated are subject to change, but details were correct at the time of going to press.