Quirky entertainment at Stilton Cheese Rolling (Photo: © Stilton Community Association).
When: 2nd May 2016, from 10.30am (cheese rolling begins at 12 noon)
Where: High Street, Stilton, Cambridgeshire
£: Free to watch. It costs £5 per team to enter the competition.
What is it?
The Stilton Cheese Rolling competition will take place on Monday 2nd May in Stilton, Cambridgeshire.
This annual May bank holiday tradition began after the village found itself in need of a boost. The event was thought up by a local pub landlord as a way of bringing in new visitors to the area.
For the competition, participants must compete in teams of four. Teams can be all men, all women or mixed juniors. Each team member must roll the cheese at least once during its ‘flight’. The competition works on a knockout basis. The junior teams compete first, followed by the ladies’ heats and the mens’ heats. The finals then take place, concluding with the Champion of Champions. The event itself will begin at 12 noon with a parade of the teams, most of whom will be in fancy dress ready for the contest.
Stilton Cheese Rolling teams compete on the High Street (Photo: © Stilton Community Association).
The day’s entertainment will begin at 10.30am with the crowning of the May King, Queen and Princesses. From 10.50 there is an array of entertainment taking place in the arena. Entertainment includes Maypole Dancing by Stilton School, Pig Dyke Molly, and songs from the 1930s and 1950s.
Throughout the day there will be stalls, sideshows, fairground rides, the May Garland, a charity prize draw and a cafe in the Memorial Hall. There will also be a beer festival at The Tunnels pub to keep everyone suitably refreshed.
More info: www.stilton.org/cheese-rolling and www.facebook.com/stiltoncheeserolling