MUSIC & DANCING
Live bands often play during a village fete, usually on a stage set
up inside a tent or on a bandstand.
There may be some dancing displays. Local
Morris dancing groups are
often invited to perform. Another tradition is
Maypole dancing.
Morris dancing |
Maypole dancing |
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SPORTS & COMPETITIONS
Some light-hearted sports may be organised. Taking part is more important
than winning. Examples are:
-
Welly wanging: you swing a Wellington boot between your legs
and try to throw it further than other competitors. A "welly"
is a slang expression for this kind of boot, and "wanging" is
a slang way of saying "throwing".
-
Sack race: you put a sack over your feet and jump towards the
finishing line as quickly as you can, trying to beat other competitors.
-
Three-legged race: you run with one of your legs tied to one
of the legs of your friend, trying to reach the finishing line first.
-
Egg and spoon race: in this type of race you must balance a hard-boiled
egg in a spoon while you are running, and must stop to pick it up if you
drop it.
-
Tug o' war: two teams pull different ends of a rope. The winning
team is the side that moves the centre of the rope or the front member
of a team past a mark in the ground.
Welly wanging: throw a boot as far as you can |
Tug of war |
Villages may organise a
fruit and veg competition: local people
show off the best produce which they have grown in their gardens, and
a judge awards prizes to the best ones in different categories.
There might also be a
flower arranging contest.
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ANIMAL DISPLAYS
Farmers may bring some of their
sheepdogs. There is not usually enough
space for sheep, so the dogs usually demonstrate their herding skills with
farm birds such as ducks, geese or chicken.
Goose herding |
Sheepdog |
Chicken herding |
In a
dog agility display you watch dogs race around a circuit. They
must jump over fences, climb ramps, pass through tunnels and weave through
poles, encouraged by their trainers. The winner is the dog which successfully
overcomes each of the obstacles (in the correct order) in the quickest time.
Dogs race around a circuit wit their trainers ... |
... jumping over the fences ... |
... and climbing over (or through) the obstacles |
Pet shows are sometimes included in village fetes, giving owners
a chance to show off their dogs, cats or horses. These are fun shows rather
than serious competitions.
In
ferret racing: you bet on which ferret will complete a course
first, racing along several different pipes of the same length.
A ferret preparing for the race |
The winner emerges from its pipe |
A ferret is stroked after finishing the course |
Races may also be organised between other types of small animals (for example:
snails).
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FOOD & DRINK STALLS
There may be a
farmers' market selling fresh local agricultural produce,
as well as stalls selling
home-made foods such as cakes, jams or
pickles. A
beer tent,
cider tent or
tea garden may
be set up.
Cream teas are sometimes available.
Fresh local produce |
A drink from the beer tent |
Home-baked cakes |
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GAMES
A range of games are set up, either in stalls or in a part of the field.
You normally need to pay a small charge to take part. Examples are:
-
Raffle: you buy a paper ticket with a number on it, and a copy
of this is entered into a draw. Winning tickets are selected randomly and
people who hold the matching copies receive prizes. If there are a lot of
people entering the raffle your ticket may need to be of the same colour
as the winning ticket, as well as having the same number.
-
Hoopla: you pay for some hoops and try to throw these over some
objects. If you are successful you win that object as a prize.
-
Coconut shy: you throw a hard ball at a line of coconuts which
are balanced on some stands. You win any coconut which you can knock onto
the ground.
-
Plate smashing: you throw a ball at plates, this time not to win
a prize but just to enjoy watching them break into little pieces.
-
Tombola: you draw a numbered ticket at random from a "tombola
drum" (usually this is rotated first in order to mix up the tickets
inside). You check if your ticket is on the list of winning numbers which
is displayed on a board. If you have a winning number you look on a table
for the same ticket, and win the prize to which it is attached.
-
Lucky dip /
bran tub: you put your hand into a big container
inside which objects are hidden (usually in sawdust or bran) and take out
the first object you find. You win whatever you have found.
-
Hook-a-duck: you use a pole with a hook or net at one end to pick
plastic ducks from a pool of water. You win a prize depending on what is
written under your duck.
-
Cowpat bingo: you draw a ticket on which is written the number
of a squares area which is marked on a field. Cattle are then brought in
to graze on the field. You win a prize if the first cowpat lands in your
square.
-
Wet sponge throwing: you try to hit someone's face with a wet sponge,
just for the pleasure of seeing that person's reactions.
Hoopla: throw a hoop over a prize |
Coconut shy: try to knock one to the ground |
Tombola: draw a number from a rotating drum
|
Hook-a-duck |
Smile for a picture ... |
... before the wet sponge throwing begins |
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OTHER STALLS
There may be stalls selling non-food items or providing information. Examples
include:
-
Bric-à-brac: various inexpensive second-hand items are
sold from a stall
-
Charity displays: local charities may provide information about
their activities, hoping to attract new volunteers or to raise awareness
about certain issues
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CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT
Funfair rides are especially popular with children. Travelling fairs
often move between UK towns and villages during the summer months. Examples
of rides include:
-
Helter-skelter: you climb steps up to the top of a tower, then
ride down to the bottom on a mat.
-
Merry-go-round: you sit on a swing, horse or other object and this
starts to rotate round at a gentle speed.
A
bouncy castle is a large inflatable on which children can enjoy
jumping and running around.
Helter-skelter |
Merry-go-round |
A bouncy castle |
Entertainers sometimes wander around the crowd, often in fancy dress (for
example: they may be dressed as a
scarecrow, as a
village idiot
or as a
clown).
A scarecrow and village idiot entertain the crowd |
Watering the spectators |
A friendly tiger |
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