FOLLOW THE BEAR!

The Straw Bear Festival takes place on January 14-16 this year and the whole of Whittlesey will be over-run by bands, folk dancers and people out for a good time!

It’s a truly unique event in this country – the Straw Bear (a man, covered in straw) is lead, dancing like a drunk, through the streets while Morris and Molly dancers perform in around the pubs all day on the Saturday.

There’s a fantastic atmopshere wherever you go in the town and whether you’re taking the kids along to watch the fun or you’re out for a pint (or two!) it’s a real experience.

On Saturday night swamp ‘n’ roll band Elvis Fontenot and the Sugar Bees are playing at Park Lane School, while on Sunday, the ‘burning of the bear’ takes place at Sir Harry Smith School around Noon.

If you’ve not been before, give it a go – we promise you won’t end up like Edward Woodward in the Wicker Man, and there’s not a lot else on in January!

It all kicks off at 10am but for more information, visit www.strawbear.org.uk or call 01733 208245.

Photos: Mike Harris – not to be reproduced elsewhere without prior permission from ESP Magazine.