About two dozen morris dancers and musicians in a group photo formation on the steps of a band shell. Almost all are dressed in white with red, blue, and yellow rosettes and arm ribbons. One has a red jacket and black top hat. One musician is holding a drum and the other a melodeon. Most of the people are pointing to the right. One is pointing to the left. One is pointing straight up.

Recreation Park, BMM 50th anniversary event, 15 June 2024.

A good weekend attending the Binghamton Morris Men’s 50th anniversary celebration. (The team was founded by mostly some SUNY Binghamton (now Binghamton University) people in 1973.) Aside from a few locals and some Bouwerie BMMs who opted for a hotel, most of us stayed at Chenango Valley State Park. Friday evening we gathered for spiedies at one of the tent sites. Some went off to view videos and photos, and consume Lagavulin, afterward, but I went to bed.

After breakfast in camp Saturday, dancing was at the Binghamton Farmer’s Market, Elizabeth Church Manor, Recreation Park, New Leaf Cider, and CVSP. There were, I think, 16 men in kit and dancing, plus two musicians, one dancer in kit but not dancing, and a couple more not in kit and not dancing.

And yes, we did dance, it wasn’t all just standing around pointing fingers:

In center, two morris dancers, in white with red, yellow, and blue rosettes and arm ribbons, are face to face performing a hankie dance in a parking lot. Left feet are in the air and both hands are high. Two more dancers are visible in the background and the hand and forearm of another in front.

Binghamton Farmers Market, BMM 50th anniversary event, 15 June 2024.

Between EC and RP was BU and SCPG: A walking tour of places at Binghamton University that had meaning to those who attended it, not so much to those who didn’t, though there was some interest in the Mandela Room. This was formerly the Social Hall, where BMM first practiced. And last practiced — six men ran through the “Webley Twizzle” while we were there. Lunch was at South City Pub and Grill, across from where BMM hangout Sullivan’s Hotel (and slow burger cook Sullivan’s Glenn) used to be. On the way out of Rec Park we climbed aboard the carousel and broke it — well, the motor started overheating. Dinner was at Little Venice. Some went off to whatever afterward, but I went to bed.

Sunday, there again was breakfast at camp. Then we went home.

I enjoyed it. Nice to see these people, some of whom I saw three weeks ago, others not in ten years or more. And nice to get a chance to do some Ducklington dances in BMM kit. It’s maybe my favorite tradition to do, but lately we tend not to have six who can do Ducklington available. Also nice to have, twice, two sets of BMM dancers up at once. (And for one of those we managed to have twelve usable sticks, too!)

Postscript: It’s summer. The CDC reports very low covid rates. This event was mostly outdoors. And yet… in the following week, five participants (around 20% of the total) tested positive for covid. It’s still out there, still making people sick, sometimes very sick. Keep being careful.

More photos: https://www.richardsholmes.com/photos/index.php?/category/32

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