Every year on November 5th thousands of people descend on the English village of Ottery St Mary in Devon, to celebrate a 17th Century tradition.in which brave participants carry burning tar barrels shoulder high through the streets. The event is a culmination of autumn festivities in the town, including an annual carnival, that takes place on the preceding Saturday, complete with a magnificent display of fireworks.
Starting with the junior barrels in late afternoon the size of the barrels get steadily bigger until the final enormous one is carried just before Midnight. A gigantic bonfire over 10 m (30 feet) high and topped with Guy Fawkes, provides the impressive background to the occasion together with a fairground and several other festive attractions.
Ottery St Mary is only an hour or so drive, to the west of Weymouth.
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