Yes - the 2016 Blackawton International Festival of Wormcharming is taking place on May Day (Sunday 1st May). So our fancy dress theme this year pays tribute to the emergency services. Very appropriate considering that the largest charitable donation from the event each year goes to the Devon Air Ambulance Trust!
Last year, our Wild West theme presented a wide range of possibilities for dressing up and the event attracted many more participants in fancy dress than we've had for a number of years. This year, we really want fancy dress to be the "norm" and we believe that the theme offers even more opportunities for "easy-to-do" fancy dress.
If you don't fancy being an Air Ambulance pilot or paramedic, there's the police, fire brigade, ambulance service, RNLI, coastguard, mountain rescue, doctors, nurses ... the list is endless.
Then there are the saviours who are seldom seen - such as our very own team from International Worm Resuce (IWR) who safely return all our worms to the ground after each Wormcharming competition. Maybe IWR will make their debut public appearance at Wormcharming this year!
If that's still not enough choice, you can stretch the theme to include fictional rescuers (such as Thunderbirds) and comic book super heroes - although too many chaps wearing their underpants on top of their trousers and pretending to be Superman would not be a good look in the village!
Whatever you wear to Wormcharming 2016, don't be in the minority - be part of the new Wormcharming "norm" - embrace the theme and dress the part. Who knows - you may even be a winner in our fancy dress competition!
The Festival is very much a whole village affair and lasts throughout the day. Early arrivals can check out the food and drink outside The Normandy Arms. A full range of drinks, plus bacon and egg baps, will also be available at The George Inn. Grab a beer and await the crescendo of activity leading up to the procession through the village.