Ely's Eel Day
EELS, EELS AND MORE EELS will be the flavour of the day on Saturday 28th April for Ely's Annual Eel Day. Starting at 12.00 noon from Cross Green (adjacent to the Cathedral) Ely's new '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 Ely Barns Group who will be spending their Easter Holidays working with local artist John Lyons to help make the event's mascot. The procession is headed by 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.
Also included in this year's procession will be 12 visiting Town Criers in all their finery, as part of Ely's first Town Crier's Competition. It was the city's own Town Crier, Avril Hayter's idea to host a competition as they bring so much vibrancy, interest and of course noise to a town! The 12 criers will gather on Palace Green for the first cry of the day at 11.00 am. Eight judges have been carefully selected from the local community and each one has a particular criteria to judge the criers performance on. The second cry of the day will be held in Jubilee Gardens at 3.00 pm and the winners will then be announced.
Each crier is being sponsored by local businesses and already The Cutter Inn, The Boathouse Restaurant, Food Skills, Ely Standard and the Lamb Hotel have signed up to sponsor a visiting town crier. In return, the crier is able to promote their business by performing a personal cry about the business.
Along with a full programme of arena events including musical performances, children's theatre and historical reenactments there will be lots of family participation opportunities. Can you beat 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. Other 'eel related' games are also on offer as are puppet making and pottery workshops.
Ely Lions, who have once again worked closely with East Cambridgeshire District
Council and ADeC to bring Ely this annual event, will be out in force helping
steward the procession as well as manning their traditional Tombola. There will
be displays from the Environmental Agency including a tank of real eels! Local
eel catcher, Peter Carter will be on hand to show you all his catching
equipment and there will be an opportunity to see how eel baskets are made and
have a go at basked weaving yourself.
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 all washed down with a one off Eel Day special brew.
Tracey Harding, Tourism and Events Officer for East Cambridgeshire District Council said: 'The day is all about celebrating Ely's culture and traditions and encouraging awareness and use of the Eel Trail. We hope to continue to build on this unique event each year and involve more and more businesses and organisations and further raise the profile of the Isle of Eels.
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.