Lammas Day

Nationwide - 1st August 2006

Traditionally, Lammas marked the end of the growing season. Lammas is now recognised as a Christian holy day, and is celebrated by the Church as such. 'Lammas' was the medieval Christian name for the holiday and it means 'loaf-mass', as the day on which loaves of bread were baked from the first grain harvest and laid on the church altars as offerings.

Earlier Pagan celebrations often took place on the last day of July and again marked the first grain harvest. The success of the harvests determined the quality of life through the long winter months. The Celtic harvest season, occurring ¼ of a year after Beltane, began when the first crops were gathered at Lughnasadh, named after the Celtic sun god Lugh. Corn dollies made from the straw of the first harvest would be kept safe through the winter and then buried in the spring with the sowing of the fields.

Walking the plank competition

Isle of Sheppey - 5th August 2006

Shiver me timbers - Join Captain Cutlass and his motley crew as they prepare to take on the entire Isle of Sheppey and everything they've got... This fantastically fun and exciting event has become a major attraction as a motley collection of 'plankers' take turns to be pushed off a wooden plank by the legendary cut-throat. But are YOU brave enough to enter? Each year 'plankers' turn up in full regalia from wedding dresses, to full Viking wear.

Judges mark the plankers out of 10 for their costume, use of piratical language, execution of jump and overall star quality. Celebrity judges have yet to be announced. Each successful candidate automatically receives a certificate welcoming them to the Sheppey Pirates' Grand Order of World-class Plankers. The Pirates are expected to land at 1.00pm and the plank walking usually begins around 1.15pm, or when the water is deep enough for safe jumping. Later comes the prize-giving. The Captain says: "I like a nice deep harbour for plank walking but that limits us to an hour. Even so, I can still dispose of up to 20!"
His favourite 'victims' are usually from Swale Borough Council but he has also been known to hurl school teachers, police officers and traffic wardens into the Briny.

All Plankers must be 18 and over and be able to swim. They pay £5 for the 'privilege' but all proceeds go to the RNLI. To enter, you can just turn up on the day. Plank Walking is on a first come first jump basis. Click here for more details on how to enter the competition and play with us!

King Athur's Last Battle

Tintagel, Cornwall - 5th -7th August 2006

Every year the residents of Tintagel, deeply entwined in the legend and mythology of the great King Arthur, re-enact his final moments at the castle in which he was supposed to have been born. This three day festival sees all the locals joining in and hardcore fanatics relishing every last second. Click here for more details on our Carry On King Arthur tour!

Chilli fiesta

West Dean, Chichester, West Sussex 5th -6th August 2006

This 'heated' festival in this pretty area of West Sussex is a 2 day fiesta to display just how important the chilli has become in British cuisine! Taste the wares and make sure you've got something on hand to cool the burn!

The Burry Man

South Queensferry, Edinburgh - 11th August (second Friday in August)

South Queensferry holds a gala week each year and on the Friday of that week the Berry man parades through the town. The Burry Man is clothed from head to foot in a special suit, to which burdock burrs have been attached by the hundred. The custom is so old that it’s origin is unknown, but it is thought to relate to a pagan ritual invoking good fortune for the community and for the harvest and scaring away the evil spirits. The whole town turns out to see the Burry Man’s progress through the streets. The actual burry man is a mythical creature which is captured in human form once a year in South Queensferry in this rather eccentric portayal of Pagan Britain!

Left Handed day

Nationwide - August 13th 2006

Poor old lefties, they really do get the sharp end of the stick don't they? Well, that's what the Left Handed Society believe anyway and that is why on 13th August 1992, the club launched their official 'Left-Handed Day' which has since gained popularity and is now celebrated at different locations all over the world! This is the day when you can meet other left handers and celebrate your right to be left handed!

Burning of t'owd bartle

West Witton, North Yorkshire - 26th August - the Saturday following St Bartholomews day.

The Bartle is the effigy of a legendary outlaw who lived in the forest above the village. He stole from the villagers but was caught by the locals who chased him down the fellside where he fell and broke his neck. He was later burnt at the stake in Grassgill Lane. The day starts with a fancy dress parade followed by other events in the afternoon, the main event sees the effigy of the Bartle stuffed with rags and soaked in paraffin, with eyes lit with electric bulbs. Bartle is carried down the main street via numerous pubs to chants about its fate. At Grassgill End the Bartle is stabbed and then set on fire!

Bog Snorkelling

Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales - 26th August 2006

Llanwrtyd Wells is the smallest town in Britain with a population of only 600 people. Yet somehow it manages to hold several random and incredibly unusual events there successfully each year, the Bog snorkelling is one of three events of its type the other two being the 'Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling' and the 'Triathalon Bog Snorkelling' in which people actually ride their bikes INTO the peat bog and attempt to cycle through the muck...

The Bog Snorkelling events have become big news in Britain and basically consist of people (who quite clearly have nothing better to do with their time) cutting 60 yard ditches into peat bogs, donning masks, snorkels and flippers and swimming through the murky mess that is the peat bog. The competitors have to complete two lengths of the 60 yard trench in the quickest time possible, wearing snorkels and flippers (wet suits optional but advisable) but without using any conventional swimming strokes.

This is a charity event and all proceeds go to Multiple Sclerosis.

Click here for more details on Bog Snorkelling with Carry On Tours!

Notting Hill festival

Notting Hill, London - 27th - 28th August 2006

This great festival began initially from the energies of black immigrants from the Caribbean, in particular, Trinidad, where the Carnival tradition is very strong, and from people living locally, who dreamed of creating a festival to bring together the people of Notting Hill, most of whom were facing racism, lack of working opportunities and poor housing conditions resulting in a general suppression of good self-esteem..

There had been racial tensions in the late '50s and black people were subjected to constant pressures. Dances were organised in halls in North London, where people could come together freely, at the same time steel band music was becoming more and more popular in the Earls Court area being played in local pubs by Trinidadians who had immigrated here. The idea then developed of bringing this steelband and using it to help create a street festival in Notting Hill, to encourage children of all races and colours to come onto the streets and express themselves socially as well as artistically. This first took place in 1964 and was a huge success.

The festival has since become incredibly huge and massively popular amongst people from all walks of life and the carribean flavour that has been retained faithfully takes people away to another world where they can just dance in the streets, party, relax, meet friends and have a good time!

Carlisle Great Fair

Carlisle, Cumbria

Carlisle, Cumbria - End of August - lasting a week.
The fair dates back to the granting of a market charter to the city by Edward III in 1352. Each year the market is proclaimed from the steps of the cross in the centre of the city at 8am on the first day. Markets ceased to be held there in 1927 although the proclamation continued and were revived in 1975. It now takes the form of a week long street market with entertainments both indoors and outdoors.

Plague Sunday

Eyam, Derbyshire - 27th August 2006 - Last Sunday in August

It's now hard to imagine that the beautiful village of Eyam in Derbyshire, could have such a fascinating, yet tragic story to tell. However, at the end of August 1665 bubonic plague arrived at the house of the village tailor, via a parcel of cloth from London. The damp cloth was hung out in front of the fire to dry, thus releasing the plague infested fleas. George Vicars, the tailor and first plague victim, died on the 7th September, of a raging fever. The plague took hold and quickly began to take its toll, however the brave villagers decided to stay within the confines of the village to stop the spread of the disease. To minimize cross infection, food and other supplies were left outside the village. The Plague raged for 14 months and claimed the lives of at least 260 villagers. Eyam's selfless villagers had prevented the plague from spreading to other parishes, but many paid the ultimate price for their commitment. Almost 350 years later a remembrance service is still held every Plague Sunday at Cucklett Delf, Eyam

Day of Syn

Dymchurch, Romney Marsh, Kent - 28th August (bank holiday) 2006

Every two years the village of Dymchurch returns to the year 1780, when dragoons and press gangs roamed the streets looking for recruits and smugglers and highwaymen were greatly feared by the community. From early morning onwards there are entertainments including,- tumblers, conjures, strolling players, acrobats and ballad singers. In the afternoon, the dragoons are tricked away from their patrol along the beach and smugglers land contraband in barrels and bales from a fleet of boats under command of ‘The Scarecrow’, alias Dr Syn, rector of Dymchurch. There then follows a triumphant procession along the main street to the fairground where a large fete is held.

Football in the River

Bourton-on-the-Water - Monday 28th August 2006

Bourton-on-the-Water is the setting and football is the game but it's football with a twist. None of this nine a side business with 45 minutes in each direction played on a pretty pitch of green. This is six a side with 15 minutes in each direction played knee deep in a river.

The Windrush River, a 3 metre wide babbling brook, is the water in 'Bourton-on-the-Water' and is also home to one of the Cotswold's more bizarre festivals. The tradition of Football in the River has been around for over seventy years with the modern event attracting a number of local sides and hundreds of spectators to boot. The villagers of Bourton-on-the-Water have played football in the Windrush every summer for 70 years. Goal posts are set up under the bridges and players brave the cold knee-deep water wearing nothing but bright coloured football shorts or fancy dress. Hundreds of spectators line the river banks and cheer for their team in a splashy, noisy affair that spills out onto a cheery fête on the village green

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