22 Jun 2026
A historic and unique annual tradition celebrating Britain’s first saint took place in the city centre on Saturday.
Crowds wowed at the sight of 12 spectacular 3m tall carnival puppets and a colourful re-enactment of the events which led to Alban’s execution at the hands of the Romans.
The parade even included giant eyeballs on sticks making their way down St Peter’s Street as part of Alban Day – an annual celebration of the city’s rich heritage.
St Albans Cathedral’s quirky Pilgrimage procession tells the story of Alban, Britain’s first Christian martyr, using giant puppets representing the saint, Roman Centurions, lions and chariots, plus a couple of Peregrine falcons representing the birds of prey who regularly nest on the Abbey roof.
The parade began at St Peter’s Church, stopped at the Museum + Gallery for Alban’s trial and culminated in a gathering at the Cathedral Orchard where his execution was re-enacted in all its grisly detail, including how his executioner’s eyes fell out during the saint’s beheading.
A citizen of Roman Verulamium, Alban was martyred for giving shelter to the Christian priest Amphibalus, with legend saying his head rolled downhill after his execution and a well sprang up where it stopped, at the bottom of Holywell Hill, but unfortunately the firefighters who usually reenacted this miracle were called away on a shout.
More photos in this week’s edition of the St Albans Times.
