The Tar Barrels - the UKs craziest festival.....

Festivals don't come more strange and crazy as this(and you don't have to travel across Europe to be there)! Book a place with festival Trip and experience the South West's - not to be missed - ' Tar Barrels festival', which this year will be held on Monday 5th November 2007.

Ottery St. Mary is internationally renowned for its Tar Barrels, an old Pagan custom, said to have originated in the 13th century for scaring evil spirits, it now seems to attract them...... and is held every year around November 5th, along side the Great British tradition of Guy Fawkes night - fireworks and bonfires!

Package : FESTIVAL TRIP HAVE DECIDED NOT TO RUN A PACKAGE THIS YEAR AS THE FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE ON A MONDAY EVENING. IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL OR YOU HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE EVENT, THEN PLEASE MAKE AN ENQUIRY AS WE MAY BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A GROUP AND LAY ON SOME TRANSPORT AND A LOCAL GUIDE TO GET YOU THERE - HASSLE FREE!

TO GET TO THE EVENT IN GOOD TIME WE RECCOMMEND DEPARTING FROM LONDON ABOUT 2PM. AND A RETURN TO LONDON IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS WORK.

ITS A GREAT EVENT AND ONE YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU HAVE BEEN TO ! AND WORTH THE BLEARY EYED NEXT DAY AT WORK!

What's the 'Tar barrels' all about?
Each of the village's central pubs sponsors a single barrel. In the weeks prior to the day of the event, the barrels are soaked with tar. On the night you and thousands of other spectators enjoy this great atmosphere and cram into the small central square of the village as you become part of this unique local event. The barrels are lit outside each of the 17 pubs in turn and once the flames begin to pour out, they are hoisted onto on the back of a traditional 'barrel roller' who then runs through the crowd cleansing the streets of evil spirits .........you will feel spiritually cleansed alright... but probably not in the jocks department.!

If you are the type that enjoys something new, local, historic and exciting... then this is for you.

Seventeen barrels in all are lit over the course of the evening. The barrels weigh in at a hefty 30 kilos. The 'barrel rollers' tussle constantly for supremacy of the barrels which can get a bit crazy at times, still there is a great sense of camaraderie. In most cases, generations of the same family carry the barrels so don't try and pick one up yourself! .

It's an awesome night to not to be missed - Also one of the biggest bonfires in the South West is ignited on the banks of the River Otter and behind it are the flashing neon lights of the fairground with plenty of rides to get that adrenalin pumping and the beer rolling!.

Click here>> to go to the official website for the event