PLOUGHMEN will be vying for honours at this year’s Prickwillow Ploughing Festival, as all manner of rural skills and crafts go on show over the two day event.

This is the second time that TWH Clarke and Son of Green Farm and next door Prickwillow Museum have staged the weekend festival, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7, starting each day at 10am.

There is a huge range of attractions on offer, with something for everyone. Visitors can watch both heavy horses and vintage tractors pull the ploughs, and there will be a vast array of other vintage and classic vehicles, tractions engines, indoor arts and crafts, trade stands, a group of alpacas and musical entertainment.

The historic City of Ely Fire appliance will be in steam, and reunited with the restored Bedford lorry which was used to pull the appliance in the 1930s.

Organiser Pauline Dunahm said: “We have been thrilled with the response from exhibitors who want to take part; we will have five heavy horses and a lots of vintage tractors. There will be ploughing both days, although the competition takes place on Sunday, the presentations at about 3.30pm.

“The festival is a great family day out. We have not held a ploughing festival since 2010, but now we hope to make it an annual event.”

The festival an even boast its own specially brewed beer, with Bartrams Brewery running the beer tent and selling The Prickwillow Festival Own Real Ale, on draught and in bottles.

Archery, football, and a road train are also among the attractions; along with food including home made cakes, fish and chips and venison burgers. The RSPB will be organising nature trails for children.

Local band “Akimbo” will be playing on Saturday, as well as folk musicians and a revival of East Anglian Step Dancing with demonstrations of this once popular dance to folk music. Eel Pie Band will be leading the musical entertainment on Sunday

The Prickwillow Drainage Museum will be open both days, running its big engines and displaying the story and history of Fenland drainage. Refreshments, including hot and cold snacks and drinks will be available.

Admission costs �5 for adults and �4 for concessions, with under 16s admitted free. Proceeds will be shared between the museum and Cancer Research UK, in memory of Nigel Clarke.

For more information contact Pauline on 01353 720737.