Marlboro Morris Ale

05/18/2026

The Marlboro Morris Ale is THIS WEEKEND! Wondering where to find the morris and sword dancers in Brattleboro and Windham County this weekend? Check out the web page with the public performances listed! Link in comments.

05/07/2026

The morris dancers are coming...

05/19/2025

In advance of our upcoming 50th Ale, "The Folk Show" from New Hampshire Public Radio featured an interview yesterday with some of the co-founders of the Marlboro Morris Ale, Andra Horton and Julianna Stevens, and musician Carol Compton! Jack In The Green also make some music! Take a listen, share it around!

Juliana Stevens and Andy Horton were two of the founders of the Marlboro Ale. They visited with the Jack in the Green Morris Team.

05/12/2025

1977! This is the first poster we have in the Marlboro Ale Archival Collection. We are still looking for the elusive poster from 1976, presuming there was one. If you have information, let us know! Artwork by Peter Klosky.

You can see more photos of the wonderful Ale posters, buttons and t-shirts over the years in the Marlboro Ale Archival Collection. Access to the collection will be unveiled at the 2025 Ale, and provided online on the Marlboro Ale website as of May 2025.

05/01/2025

...and the answer to the question in the last Ale Archives post is....

Marlboro Morris Men!

Now for a story from a different year:

In 2007, the Ale needed to relocate to a different location, because Marlboro College decided to have an alumni fundraiser. The Ale that year was held at nearby Camp Neringa, so the t-shirt that year highlighted “The Ale in Exile."

You can find images of many of the annual Ale t-shirts in the Marlboro Ale Archival Collection. Access to the collection, once it is completed, will be unveiled at the 2025 Ale, and provided online on the Marlboro Ale website as of May 2025.

04/10/2025

In 1995, one of the teams who came to the Ale was identified not by their name but by this mysterious moniker. (This was, reportedly, soon after the performer Prince identified themself using only a symbol.)

Who was that team? We’ll tell you in our next post.

You can find lists of who attended each Ale in the Marlboro Ale Archival Collection. Access to the collection, once it is completed, will be unveiled at the 2025 Ale, and provided online on the Marlboro Ale website.

03/27/2025

On selected years, the Ale organizers would create a “program book,” intended for the public who was watching show dances at various venues. These program books included descriptions of each team, a team portrait and a list of who was dancing on each team. Here’s the 1985 Program Book – how many old friends can you find, and do you recognize them?
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You can find copies of selected program books and Ale participant lists in the Marlboro Ale Archival Collection. Access to the collection, once it is completed, will be unveiled at the 2025 Ale, and provided online on the Marlboro Ale website as of May 2025.
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03/11/2025

From the archives:

Much to everyone’s surprise, John Roberts got married–unannounced–at the 1976 Ale, with all Ale attendees looking on.

You can find more photos of John Roberts, and others, in the Marlboro Ale Archival Collection. Access to the collection, once it is completed, will be unveiled at the 2025 Ale, and provided online on the Marlboro Ale website.

05/31/2024

05/31/2024