Ely's Eel Day
EELS, EELS AND MORE EELS will be the flavour of the day on Saturday 29th April
for Ely's Annual Eel Day. Starting at 11.30 am on Cross Green (adjacent to
the Cathedral) Ely's very own "Ellie the Eel" will be heading the
carnival like procession along part of the City's Eel Trail Heritage Walk.
Everybody is welcome to join in the procession which includes members of
Ely's Lantern Studios and children from St Mary's School who helped
make "Ellie" for the launch of the trail three years ago. The
procession includes Ely's Samba Band who will lead the line down to the
Waterside and into Jubilee Gardens where a whole host of eel related activities
will be held.
Along with a full programme of arena events including musical performances, children's theatre and historical re-enactments there will be lots of family participation opportunities. Can you set the East Cambs record for Eel Throwing? Based on the wellie throwing idea, children and parents alike can battle it out to see who can throw the handmade eel socks the furthest. Each eel has to be first named and then the names and distances will be put on a leader board and entered into an hourly competition. Winners will receive a variety of prizes from free cinema tickets to free swimming pool sessions. Other "eel related" games are also on offer as are puppet making and pottery workshops.
There will be displays from the Environmental Agency and Ely Perspective Riverside Group as well as information and artefacts from the art of eel catching. Experience life in years gone past with a living encampment showing the trades and wares of the time. Children have the chance to try on period costumes and play period games.
There will be the chance to taste smoked and jellied eels as well as more conventional forms of food on sale including a hog roast and vegetarian falafels all washed down with a one off Eel Day special brew!
In addition, Ely's Boathouse Restaurant, beside the river, is offering a variety of eel dishes on the menu throughout this weekend.
For further information about the day, contact Tracey Harding, Tourism and Events Officer at East Cambridgeshire District Council on 01353 616377 or email tracey.harding@eastcambs.gov.uk or check out the website at www.eastcambs.gov.uk/tourism.