Join us Saturday, 1st August 2026 for Lympstone’s annual Furry Dance!
The exact origins of the dance have been lost in time, however, it is believed that it celebrated the safe return of local fishermen who had been trading their fish for furs in Novia Scotia in the 1800s. After months away, wives and children would welcome their husbands, sweethearts and fathers home, dancing through the streets. In 2026 we will be continuing the festive tradition with events throughout the day.
On Cliff Field (turn right as you leave Lympstone train station, up the slope along the cycle path):
From 12 o’clock, midday: Boney Stone Memorial Football Match
2pm: Dog Show, with multiple categories, you have multiple opportunities to win! £2 entry per dog, per category. Registration opens at 12 o’clock – it’s always busy so we recommend getting booked in nice and early!
3.30pm: Fancy Dress Competition, arranged by age group and a group category (free to enter)
There will be food stands and a bar, all available until 5pm, and a bouncy castle for the young (and the young at heart)!
At The Swan there will be live music provided by brilliant local bands throughout the day including Hang Fire, The Mutineers, The Looseners, Revision Party & Sloe Train, plus you can buy your raffle tickets from our lovely volunteers between 11am and 3pm. Also keep an eye out for the miniature steam engine which will be out and about in the village during the day!
At 5.30, the Furry Dance will begin with fancy dress actively encouraged!
The marvelous Lympstone Academy Brass and Lympstone Band will lead the procession, leaving The Globe at about 6pm to Front Meadow (opposite the church).
Once at the Meadow, the bands will perform a concert of old and new songs for about 30 or 40 minutes. If you don’t fancy joining in with the procession, why not bring a picnic and join us there?
At about 7pm the bands will lead us back to the village centre, but the festivities don’t stop there, with the live music at The Swan continuing into the evening, plus a wonderful fireworks display launched from the harbour, kindly provided by Lympstone Fishery & Harbour Board and Ingham Fisheries.
Come and join us for what is sure to be a fabulous day of festivities, we look forward to seeing you in all your finery!
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