Straw Bear Festival returns in colourful fashion to streets of Whittlesea The annual Whittlesea Straw Bear festival returned in colourful fashion on Saturday as people gathered to witness the famous parade on the streets of Cambridgeshire.
The Straw Bear paraded the streets alongside members of the Bourne Borders dance troupe, a Morris dancing group who are known for wearing bright yellow and green attire, green face paint and colourful hats with various flowers.
Meanwhile, Pig Dyke Molly dancers donned striking face paint sporting dramatic black and white detail as they took to the streets and Old Glory Molly dancers wore grey face paint and crowns made from green leaves.
It was custom that on the Tuesday following Plough Monday (the first Monday after Twelfth Night), one of the members of the plough would dress in straw and was named the Straw Bear, according to organisers.
Dancers and musicians in the village of Whittlesea braved cold weather as the Straw Bear walked in the procession accompanied by attendant keepers.
