Get ready for dancing in the streets as Whittlesey hosts its annual Straw Bear Festival

One of the area’s most unusual and popular festivals will be held this weekend and will see one Fenland town packed with visitors.

Whittlesey Straw Bear festival is being held over three days and as usual is expected to draw thousands of visitors from all over to join in the festivities.

If you have never been to the Straw Bear Festival it is well worth a visit because come rain or or shine there will be dancing in the streets, as the ‘Bear’ is led around the town.

It is not quite clear where the Straw Bear custom began in the town, but there is a newspaper report covering the event that used to take place on the Tuesday following Plough Monday – which is always the first Monday after Twelfth Night (January 5) dating to 1882 covering the festival.

In the early part of the 20th century the Straw Bear fell into decline but it was revived by the Whittlesea Society in 1980

A person is dressed in a suit made of straw from the last year’s harvest and will dance through the streets accompanied by musicians, plough boys with the decorated plough and followed by many dance teams who will bring colour to the town.

The procession takes place calling at various pubs and venues along the way on Saturday with festivities running from 10.30am to 3.30pm and include dancing from a host of Morris and Molly Dancing teams who travel from all over the country to join the festival.

But before we get to the fun of Saturday the entertainment will kick off on Friday night from 8pm with a ceilidh and open mic night with music to get your toes tapping and feet moving provided by White Bryony.

Tickets are £12 per person for the event which is being held at the Whittlesey Indoor Bowls Complex in Station Road. Doors open at 7.30pm and the event runs until around 11pm.

Master of ceremonies for the evening will be Ollie Simons and tickets are available through the Straw Bear website.

The whole thing culminates on Sunday when the burning of the Straw Bear takes place at Decoy Lakes – and dog owners beware canines are not allowed.

Gates open at 11am with free car parking on site and the burning is at noon.