The City of London, being very ancient has many traditions and ceremonies, and as many of us still like dressing up in livery finery, many of them still happen today.

Many of the ceremonies take place in private and aren’t open to the public, but as they involve processions from Halls to Churches, that part can be observed.

So it’s no surprise to be wandering around the City sometimes and run into a group of people wearing furs and lace, carrying something special to a ceremony.

Event Venue Usual Date Confirmed Date
Trial of the Pyx Goldsmiths’ Hall 2nd Thursday in February
Sir John Cass service St Botolph Aldgate In January or February
Cakes and ale ceremony Stationers’ Hall Shrove Tuesday 25/02/2020
Inter Livery Pancake Races Guildhall Shrove Tuesday 25/02/2020
Spital sermon St Lawrence Jewery In March or April 05/03/2020
Bridewell service St Bride Fleet Street 2nd Tuesday in March 10/03/2020
United Guilds’ service St Paul’s Cathedral March 27/03/2020
Butterworth charity St Bartholomew the Great Good Friday 10/04/2020
Stow commemoration service St Andrew Undershaft On or near 5th April every 3rd year 20/04/2020
Gift of fish to the Mayor of Tower Hamlets Billingsgate Market April
Festival of the Sons of the Clergy St Paul’s Cathedral May 12/05/2020
View day by the Lord Mayor St Barts Hospital 2nd Wednesday in May 13/05/2020
Pepys commemorative service St Olave Hart Street On or near 26th May
Beating the bounds Various churches Ascension Day, May 21/05/2020
Challenge at the Tower of London All Hallows Church Ascension Day, every 3rd year 21/05/2020
Bubble Sermon St Bride Fleet Street 1st Tuesday in June 02/06/2020
Trinitytide procession and service Trinity House to St Olave Hart Street Week after Whitsun
Fishmongers procession Fishmongers Hall to St Magnus the Martyr Usually in June
Skinners procession Skinners Hall to St James Garlickhythe Corpus Christi Day, June 11/06/2020
Knollys Rose ceremony Seething Lane to Mansion House On or near 22nd June 17/06/2020
Admiral of the Port’s Challenge River Thames June 17/06/2020
Election of Sheriffs Guildhall Midsummers Day, June 24/06/2020
Vintners’ procession Vintners Hall to St James Garlickhythe Usually 2nd Wed in June 08/07/2020
Swan Upping River Thames 3rd week in July 13/07/2020
Cart marking ceremony Guildhall Yard On or near 19th July
Doggett’s coat and badge race River Thames In July or August 03/09/2020
Firefighters Memorial Service City Church to “blitz” September 06/09/2020
Christ’s Hospital School procession City church to Guildhall Around St Matthew’s Day, September
Admission of Sheriffs Guildhall Last week in September 28/09/2020
Costermonger’s Harvest Festival Guildhall to St Mary le Bow Sunday in September
Sheep Drive across London Bridge London Bridge Late September 27/09/2020
Harvest of the sea service St Mary at Hill Sunday in October
Quit Rents ceremony Royal Courts of Justice October
Election of the Lord Mayor Guildhall On or as close to 29th September 29/09/2020
Lion sermon St Katharine Cree 16th October 16/10/2020
Painters-Stainers procession Painters Hall to St James Garlickhythe St Luke’s Day, October
Presentation of fruit to Lord Mayor by the Fruiterers Mansion House Last week in October
Submariners parade and service Submariners Memorial, Embankment Sunday before Remembrance Sunday 01/11/2020
The planting of the crosses St Paul’s Cathedral Usually first Mon in November preceding Remembrance Sunday
Admission ceremony of the Lord Mayor (Silent Ceremony) Guildhall Friday before the 2nd Sat in November 06/11/2020
Lord Mayor’s Show Mansion House to the Law Courts Second Sat in November 07/11/2020
Service/Wreath laying/HAC march past St Paul’s Cathedral/Royal Exchange Remembrance Sunday
Wreath laying by Royal Fusiliers St Sepulchre Church Remembrance Sunday
Presentation of hat to Lord Mayor by Feltmakers Mansion House November 10/11/2020
Presentation of boars head to Lord Mayor by Butchers Mansion House On or near 6th December

If you have some more dates to add, or fill in gaps, let me know below.

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