Wessington Wassail

Wassail! It's back - to cope with whatever the winter might throw at us we've created a smaller, more limited event but will still have the drama and fun you'd expect.

Come and join us for fun in the orchard as we invoke the spirits of the apple trees and ward off evil spirits by making a clamour! We're holding the 4th Annual Wessington Wassail in our orchard at Amber Valley Vineyards on January 31st 2026.

This is entirely an outdoor event so dress for the conditions! It's all about fun and food and drink.

Come and join us for a lively evening in the orchard, with a bonfire, a barbecue, wines, ales and cider as we get out the Wassail! cup, hold a flaming torch procession and bless the apple trees, hang toast on the trees wishing them good health to wake the trees for the following year. Traditionally takes place on the "Ole Twelvey Night" around the 17th January, we are combining this date with pay day so your post-Christmas shocked wallets will have recovered a bit!

It's an opportunity in that dark dismal period after Christmas, when the tree is down and twinkly lights have faded to cold, to bring a bit of life, fire and warmth to the tail-end of winter and remind ourselves that Spring and warmer longer day are within sight.

We'll be holding the event in our orchard on Back Lane Wessington. Our orchard contains around 50 trees, now coming into full maturity, and it has all of the Derbyshire varieties of apple trees, some cider trees and other locally important varieties.

There will be a BBQ, Hot Food, Hot Coffee & Cocoa, a wild-hat competitions, music, bar and a bonfire!

For the grown-ups there's a Green Man themed hat or headdress competition and there's a decent wine prize too!

The headdress will need to be made of all natural and recyclable materials. Its outward appearance must be of natural materials of course.

For the kids a there is a fruit themed fancy dress competition, a cloak or a headdress is acceptable and again it must be made of natural and recycled materials. Please carefully check and ensure the any shop-bought fabric components of your child's fancy dress costume adheres to relevant fire safety standards.

Kids Under 10 Go Free! All under 18's must be accompanied by fee paying over 18s.