The Eccentric Year
Discover the East of England's weird and wacky events
Straw Bears, Daffodils and Eels
Start the year by getting down and dirty at the
Maldon Mud Race - where competitors race across
the sticky River Blackwater all in aid of charity. In
January, why not join in the dance at the town of
Whittlesey? - home of the unusual Straw Bear
Festival Watch a procession featuring
dancers, musicians and performers - all
following a person completely dressed in straw.
February sees fun pancake races in the region,
such as at Hitchin. Cheer on the participants as
they go tossing with their frying pan. The King's
Lynn Mart dates back to a charter granted by
Henry VIII in 1537. Held in the magnificent
Tuesday Market Place, experience the latest fun fair
attractions - accompanied by the Mayor. Enjoy
St. Patrick's Day in Luton, where the large Irish
population holds a festival with music and dance,
plus a grand parade with pipe bands and banners.
Celebrate the start of spring, with the Thriplow
Daffodil Weekend (nr. Royston) - this little village
transformed by massed displays of the colourful
yellow flower. Wrest Park Gardens, Silsoe (nr. Luton) holds the country's biggest
St. George's Day event. See exciting falconry displays, visit the craft market and
watch as our patron saint battles the dragon. The city of Ely is famous for its
eels - once part of the local staple diet, these watery creatures are commemorated
in May with a day of activities. Look out for the procession with 'Ellie the Eel'.
Summer Time Fun
May Day signals the coming of summer. Get up early
to watch our morris teams welcoming the sunrise,
whilst in King's Lynn, the Garland Procession sees a
large hoop of flowers, greenery and beads, with a
doll in the middle carried around the town. One of the
region's most traditional May Day celebrations is
held at the village of Ickwell (nr. Biggleswade), home
to a permanent maypole. For something a bit
different, cheer on the teams as they roll the wooden
cheeses down the High Street in Stilton
(nr. Peterborough). It celebrates the strong
connection with the village and the creamy cheese.
Morris dancing is also the key feature of the
the Lobster Potty Morris Dance Festival at
Sheringham; and the Morris Ring at Thaxted. At
these events, teams from across the country come
together to dance en-mass. Just down the road is
Great Dunmow, where every four years the Flitch
Trials sees married couples trying to convince a
judge and jury that for a year and a day they have
not wished themselves unmarried again. If
successful they win a flitch - a salted side of pork,
and are paraded through the town in the Flitch chair. World champions are crowned
in July, with our fun pea shooting, Witcham (nr. Ely) and snail racing, Congham
(nr. King's Lynn) events. Can you beat ‘Archie' the mollusc? Otherwise, dig out your
sporran, and head to Harpenden for the pipe bands and caber tossing of the
Highland Gathering - the largest such event outside Scotland.
Get down and dirty in mud races, roll a
cheese in Stilton, join in the dance with
the straw bear, and discover our world
championships of crabbing,
pea shooting and snail racing
Autumn Flavours
Take the children to Walberswick - the venue for
the British Open Crabbing Championships, where
over a 90 minute period, and armed only with a
single line and bait of your choice, the person
landing the single heaviest crab wins. More
seafood treats at Hemsby (nr. Great Yarmouth)
in August with the Herring Festival Watch as the
lifeboat crew prepare the fish in the traditional
manner - dipped in rolled oats and cooked in beef
dripping. Cheer on the masses of yellow ducks as
they take to the water for the Great Yarmouth
Duck Race on The Waterways. The annual Soham
Pumpkin Fayre sees the local gardeners proudly
displaying their seasonal pumpkins, towering
sunflowers and giant vegetables.
Floodlit Swans, Conkers and Oysters
The World Conker Championships at Ashton
(nr. Peterborough) sees modern day gladiators
battling for glory armed only with a nut and 12" of
string. Colchester oysters have been cultivated
in the tidal estuaries around the town since
before Roman times - and this is celebrated
with a private feast in the town hall, attended by
the Mayor and specially invited guests. For a
spooky trick or treat, head to the Bungay
Pumpkin Night, where Bridge Street is lined
with dazzling rows of exquisitely carved pumpkins.
November sees large flocks of wintering bewick
and whooper swans being fed by floodlight at the
WWT Welney Wetland Centre (nr. Wisbech).
A magical experience not to be missed. Finally,
brave the waters of the North Sea in December (if you dare), with charity
Christmas Day dips at Hunstanton and Lowestoft.
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