The clocks have once again plunged us forward into British Summertime, with (hopefully) blue skies and beer gardens right around the corner. But as the spring season finally gets into full swing, there is one day that all stoners up and down the country (and around the world) will be most looking forward to: 420.
420 – an international day of celebration
There are several claims and theories about the origin of this sacred stoner event, but there is one story that seems to have captured the imagination of most people. It follows a group of Californian high school students in the 1970s who used to meet up after school every day to go smoke weed together. The time of the meeting? 4:20 pm.
After spreading to other classmates and, so the story goes, to concert-goers at a Grateful Dead concert, the term ‘420’ eventually became synonymous with cannabis.
Other, slightly less believable theories around 420 involve some much more notable figures from history, including Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, and even Adolf Hitler… Thankfully, other than being born on the day of weed and good vibes, the latter unsurprisingly has nothing to do with the holiday.
No matter the true origins of 420, for decades, the 20th of April has been a day of celebration for cannabis advocates not just in the US but in many other countries all around the globe, including here in the UK. With Germany legalising cannabis this year, there will be extra motivation amongst us all to show politicians that cannabis has mass support here too. So, as we make our way through the fourth month of the year, let’s take a look at some of the biggest 420 events lined up in the UK so far.
420 Hyde Park, London
Probably the most well-known and largest 420 event in the UK takes place in London’s Hyde Park. According to Facebook, this annual rally has been going since 1968 – that’s 56 years! In 2020, the event even went ahead virtually, with a live stream featuring speeches from MPs and cannabis experts, alongside live music and interactive discussions.
Previous 420 events in the popular London park have attracted record-breaking crowds, including an incredible 50,000 cannabis advocates in 2019. While there is no ‘official’ 420 event in Hyde Park this year, the event falls on a Saturday afternoon, so it’s fair to expect tens of thousands of people making the pilgrimage to this mighty gathering to celebrate all that is weed. While people will be celebrating in Hyde Park all day, make sure you’re there for 20 past 4, when people spark up en masse creating the biggest outdoor hotbox you’ve ever seen. If you’re a patient looking to hang out with other patients, don’t miss the Medical Cannabis Patient Picnic, which you can find using what3words.
When?: 11 am – 5 pm
Where?: Hyde Park, London, W2 2UH
420 at Castle Park, Bristol
Bristol has become known for its citizen activism and green credentials (it was the first UK city to be named European Green Capital in 2015), but in recent years, its 420 movement has also been gaining momentum.
The event at the city’s historic Castle Park has attracted a growing number of visitors in recent years, and this year’s event is expected to do just the same. With a number of sponsors offering giveaways and even an afterparty complete with DJs scheduled to take place at The Warehouse, Bristol’s 420 event is sure to be a lot of fun.
For more information, visit the event’s Facebook Page.
When?: 12 pm – 11:55 pm
Where: Castle Park, Bristol
Belfast 420 March
Cannabis activists in Northern Ireland will be uniting this year for a protest march aimed at highlighting the widespread support for cannabis decriminalisation in Northern Ireland.
The protest starts at the gates of City Hall at 2:30 pm, with a live musical performance from Micheál Ó Dálaigh to ramp up the mood, before setting off at 3:30 pm. The march will cross the city, heading to Botanic Gardens to arrive at 4:10 pm – just in time for the 420 celebrations to start.
Attendees are encouraged to bring flags, vaporisers, pre-rolls and a festive spirit to the event which has been incredibly well attended in the past. Don’t miss out!
Find out more via the event’s Facebook page here.
When?: 2:30 pm
Where: City Hall, Belfast
Durham 420
The city of Durham in the North East of England has some strong canna-credentials, home to the long-standing activist and journalist Simpa Carter, the city has hosted some well-attended protests in the past.
This year, 420 celebrations return to the ‘Hemp Gardens’ in Old Elvet for a demonstration against the ongoing persecution, vilification, and arbitrary criminalisation of peaceful cannabis consumers, both lawful and unlawful.
Join Simpa and others to celebrate all things Cannabis and Cannabis culture, full info can be found on the event’s Facebook page here.
When?: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: Hemp Gardens, Durham Regatta, Elvet Waterside
420 @ Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow
The Glasgow University Cannabis Society is hosting a 420 get-together in Kelvingrove Park for seasoned stoners and newcomers alike. As well as celebrating cannabis in all its forms, the event promises live music, good vibes and insightful conversation.
More info is available on the event page here.
When?: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: Kelvingrove Park, Park Terrace, Glasgow
Channel Islands 420 Celebration
While not technically in the UK, residents in the Channel Islands can celebrate 420 this year thanks to Green Retreat Gurnsey and the Channel Islands Cannabis Collective.
The event, which claims to be the first-ever 420 celebration for the Channel Islands, is being held at the Hougue du Pommier Hotel and features a lineup of DJs, bands, engaging speakers, tempting food stalls, and an array of product stalls.
The event is ticketed and strictly for over 18s – you can grab tickets from the website here.
When?: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Where: Hotel Hougue du Pommier, Guernsey
It is not always possible to locate 420 events until a day or two before the celebration. This is often down to the discretion of the organisers – after all, cannabis is still an illegal drug in the UK. In other cases, 420 events can pop up all over the country as spontaneous gatherings of like-minded individuals! But with this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the past events that may give us a clue about a few other 420 events for 2024.
Platt Fields, Manchester
In past years, Manchester has been a huge player in the 420 movement, with huge crowds gathering at several locations around the northern city. Past events have seen stoners gather at Platt Fields Park – one of the largest, more central parks in the city, and rumour has it another event is being planned – we’ll update this article with more info when we have it.
What we do know right now is that Insomnia Cookies, a late-night bakery with three branches across Manchester will be at Platt Fields offering a Munchie Exchange to those celebrating 420 in the park.
Simply bring any unopened, non-perishable snack to their pop-up in the park and exchange it for a freshly baked, warm and delicious cookie. Not only do you get fresh munchies in return, but all exchanged snacks will be donated to local Manchester food banks. Win win.
Woodhouse Moor, Hyde Park, Leeds
Woodhouse Moor in Leeds’ Hyde Park has become a favourite 420 hotspot among cannabis enthusiasts in the Yorkshire city. In recent years, it has seen big numbers flock to the large park near the University of Leeds and Leeds University Union. Last year, hundreds reportedly headed out in the sunshine to enjoy a smoke among friends old and new – and this year will likely be a similar affair, although no official guidance on 420 events has yet been announced.
For decades, 420 and a love of cannabis has inspired tens – if not hundreds – of thousands of people to head out to their favourite gathering spaces around the country to show their support for change. As cannabis reform continues to evolve and more countries around the world continue to leave the UK behind, we expect that this year’s 420 events could be bigger than ever before. Have we missed an event? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list!
