May Day

May 1st marks the start of the traditional Morris performance season, and for centuries, Morris dancers worldwide have performed a vital task in ensuring that the sun continues to rise for another year.

Accordingly, Berkeley Morris dances up the sun on May Morning every year* at Inspiration Point in Tilden Regional Park.

We start dark and early at 5:30am with the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, and then continue with historical and contemporary Cotswold dances until the sun makes its appearance. From there, we sing traditional springtime songs and teach a crowd- and kid-friendly dance.

Join us!

Silhouettes of Morris Morris dancers carrying antlers against the glowing pre-dawn sky

Directions

From I – 80 : Take the Buchanan exit to Albany. Buchanan becomes Marin after crossing San Pablo Ave. Continue heading East on Marin, crossing The Alameda. Continue up Marin and around the Arlington Circle Fountain. Go up Marin Ave. a very steep hill to the top which is Grizzly Peak. Right on Grizzly Peak. Left on Shasta and down the hill to the park. Shasta Road merges onto Wildcat Canyon Road near the Brazilian Building. Continue past the Botanical Gardens. Follow Wildcat Canyon Road around to the left past the gardens, go uphill for about a mile, until you see the sign and parking lot for Inspiration Point on your left.

From Highway 24: Take the Fish Ranch Road exit just east of the Caldecott Tunnel. Go 1 mile to the top of the hill and turn right onto Grizzly Peak Boulevard. In 1.3 miles, beyond Lomas Cantadas Road, you reach the top of South Park Drive on your right.

If South Park Drive is open, turn right and go 1.5 miles. Turn right on Wildcat Canyon Road. Follow Wildcat Canyon Road for about a mile, until you see the sign and parking lot for Inspiration Point on your left.

If South Park Drive is closed, continue on Grizzly Peak Boulevard to Golf Course Drive, turn right, and then, past the clubhouse, turn right again on Shasta Road. Quickly turn right on Wildcat Canyon Road and pass the foot of South Park Drive. Follow Wildcat Canyon Road around to the left past the gardens, go uphill for about a mile, until you see the sign and parking lot for Inspiration Point on your left.

Hints from Oakland: Skyline Blvd turns into Grizzly Peak or you can take Claremont Avenue all the way up the hill to the intersection with Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Fish Ranch Road.

Unless you’re there very early, you’ll probably have to park along Wildcat Canyon Road.


*excluding high case count pandemic years, in which we still perform our duties, but from a safe distance via the power of the internet.