Tiscali community events
Quirky events
What makes Britain stand out when it comes to arranging events to entertain and amuse the population? We really are a crazy nation of gregarious extroverts.Quirky events
World Bog Snorkelling championships
Competitors have to complete two lengths of a 60 yard trench cut through the peat bog in the quickest time possible, wearing snorkels and flippers.
World conker championship
The village of Ashton hosts the World Conker Championships with thousands of people flocking to watch this great spectacle. Modern day gladiators fight for glory armed only with a nut and 12" of string.
Flaming tar barrels
The Tar Barrel tradition is hundreds of years old. A rather dangerous event, involving carrying flaming tar barrels through the streets of Ottery St Mary's.
Charles Dickens Festival
An event of colour, costume and entertainment. Thousands of visitors attend this festival to celebrate the life and work of the great novelist Charles Dickens and to soak up the unique victorian atmosphere.
World Nettle Eating Championship
Every june, the brave descend on Dorset to eat as many stinging nettles as possible in one hour. It's one of Dorset's but competitors come from all over the world.
Scarecrow festival
Every year participants in this popular festival showcase their scarecrows across the village of Kettlewell. A hugely popular event in a delightful village that's fun for all the family.
Faversham Hop Festival
A traditional, fun festival set in the picturesque medieval town's square and surrounding streets, celebrating the olden days of hop picking in Kent.
Horseman's Sunday
The vicar of St John's Church appears before his congregation on horseback and blesses a hundred or so horses. He then leads a cavalcade of over 100 horses and riders to the church to celebrate horse riding in the heart of London.
October Plenty
October Plenty is an Autumn harvest celebration held annually in Southwark. Beginning on the Bankside, by Shakespeare's Globe, October Plenty mixes ancient seasonal customs and theatre with contemporary festivity.
Burning The Clocks
An annual lantern parade held on 21 December, devised as an antidote to the excesses of Christmas, participants are invited to don bright costumes and make paper and willow lanterns to become part of the parade which heads through the town and congregates on the beach where there is a huge bonfire and fireworks display.
The Fireballs
Residents of Stonehaven and volunteers wow crowds by swinging huge balls of fire around and around at the ends of chains before throwing them into the harbour.
Twelfth Night Celebrations
Celebrated every January in Southwarka, this collective celebration of the new year mixes ancient Midwinter seasonal customs and contemporary festivity.
Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival
In February, Slaithwaite celebrates the Moonrakers legend with a Moonraking Festival, a week long celebration that includes lantern making by local children and ends with a parade of lanterns around the village and along the canal side
Egremont Crab Fair
The World Gurning Championships are the climax of Egremont Crab Fair, which has been going on since 1266. The championships are attended by competitors from all over the world.
Harvest festival of the pearly Kings and Queens
Every year the Cockney Pearly Kings and Queens gather in London for a harvest thanksgiving festival, dressed in their traditional costumes of suits and dresses.
The World's biggest liar in the world
This strange ompetition is a popular contest to find the best 'tall-storyteller' and to award the title of 'The Biggest Liar in the World.'
Whitstable Oyster Festival
The Whitstable Oyster Festival is a vibrant celebration of Whitstable's history, heritage, talent and traditions, the festival has grown year on year to become an eclectic and entertaining mix of events.
World toe-wrestling championship
The Bentley Brook Inn in Derbyshire hosts the Ben & Jerry's World Toe Wrestling Championship - a feast of foot foolery, bad wrestling outfits and toeriffically treacherous puns.
Bog Snorkelling Championships
Every August for the last 20 years, the smallest town in Britain has been host to the International Extreme Bog Snorkelling Championships. The winner is entered in the Guinness Book of Records.
The horn dance
The famous Horn Dance is performed by six Deer-men who wear reindeer horns. The dancers follow a 10 mile course and perform the ritual in 12 different locations in and around the village, whilst the musician plays tunes such as 'The Farmers Boy' and 'Uncle Mick' on a melodeon, with accompaniment from a triangle.
Pearly King Harvest Festival
This event takes place on 27th September at Guildhall Yard starting at 1.00pm with traditional entertainment before a parade down to St Mary-le-Bow Church for the service at 3.00pm. This is attended by many Mayors, Donkey's and Carts, Marching Bands and of course the Pearly Kings & Queens and many other colourful characters. All the offerings are donated to the Whitechapel Mission
Turning the devil's stone
Every 5th November, the villagers of Shebbear turn 'the Devil's Stone' to keep Shebbear safe. According to local tradition the stone needs to be turned over every year or a disaster will fall on the village
Peter Pan Swim
This event dates back to 1864, when the author of the children¢s classic, J M Barrie presented the Peter Pan Cup. Dozens of men and women swim the 100 yards in temperatures just above freezing and spectators are welcome on the banks. Only members of the Serpentine Swimming Club may take part in the race.
Straw Bear Festival
Celebrated every January, the Whittlesea Straw Bear is maintaining the folklore tradition of parading a man dressed in straw around the streets near to Plough Monday. Molly Dancers and Morris Dancers dance in the streets
Imbolc Fire Festival
Imbolc is based on a 2000 year old Celtic festival, marking the first signs of spring. It features a procession, fire 'circus' drama and music.Share your quirky news
Have you attended a quirky event recently or would you like to let other Tiscali members know about any up and coming events?Advertisement starts
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Carr's shock surgery
Alan Carr grabs best stand up gong at Loaded Lafta Awards, after revealing an extreme - and purely fictional - surgery in Los Angeles.
Alan Carr grabs best stand up gong at Loaded Lafta Awards, after revealing an extreme - and purely fictional - surgery in Los Angeles.
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