THE DARTMOOR village of Lustleigh celebrates the annual tradition of May Day this weekend.

Saturday (May 3) year marks the 120th anniversary of this quintessentially British celebration which - falling between the spring equinox and summer solstice - marks the beginning of summer.

May Day is also known as Beltane, an important seasonal festival that celebrates nature’s bounty and abundance, the creative energies of the earth and the cycle of life.

Lustleigh – dubbed the prettiest village on Dartmoor - has celebrated the tradition of a May Day since 1905, when it was revived by noted antiquarian Cecil Torr.

Probably the most famous iteration of the UK’s May Day events, Lustleigh May Day draws crowds from far and wide, all eager to see the crowning of a May Queen: resplendent on her throne, surrounded by a canopy of village flowers on the beautiful granite May Day rock.

This rock bears the names of all the May Queens who have come before, some of whom now organise this much-loved event with a new generation of their own children dancing around the maypole.

This year’s May Queen – who will also have her name forever engraved on this impressive rock – will be Eve Whitehead.

Eve has danced around the maypole since she was three years old .

“Back in 2013, I was so excited to join my older siblings in this magical village tradition, “ she said.

“All of us children in the village really look forward to May Day – not just the day itself but the sunny evenings spent in The Orchard practicing our dances and having fun. May Day really brings the village together and I am thrilled to be this year’s May Queen.”

The proceedings kick off with the children of Lustleigh accompanying the May Queen around the village in a procession from 2pm with traditional song, folk music, a welcome from the town crier and a blessing from the Rector, before returning to The Orchard for the crowning of the May Queen and maypole dancing.

An afternoon of morris dancing, local bands, old-fashioned fairground stalls, face painting and cream teas will then follow.

Chairman of the Lustleigh May Day Committee, Harriet Knowles said : “It is such a privilege to continue the great tradition of May Day, and we as a village really look forward to welcoming visitors to an annual celebration that is very close to our hearts.

“As a former May Queen and part of a large family who all loved the shared comradery and excitement of May Day, I feel so proud to be part of its future. In an age in which the simple joys of childhood can be so easily eclipsed by technology and the relentless pace of modern family life, May Day is a moment to take stock of what matters.

Thanks must go to all the wonderful children – and their parents – who work so hard to make May Day such a success.”

Lustleigh May Day starts from 12pm on Saturday. It is free to attend, although there is a £5 parking charge.