THERE BE DRAGONS

Hay on Fire has been happening for a good few years now. The last one we went to must be about 15 years ago, but we are not sure if they have had one every year since then. Basically, it is a cross between a pagan Halloween thing, a battle re-enactment, a firework display and .. well, a few other things chucked in for good measure.

There had been things going on most of the day, lantern making workshops, Morris dancing with fire etc, but because of the weather we waited till late and headed up in time to get a good view of the lantern procession.

Hay on Wye is a nice little town, it is in the record books for having more books shops per head of population than any other town in the world, and it is home the Hay Cinema bookshop, the largest second hand bookshop in the world. The Valleys, it is not.

The procession was led by a steam engine, piercing the air with its whistles and bringing with it thoughts of a dragon straight out of the industrial revolution. Behind it all manner of dragons, dancers, drummers and lantern carriers. Off we were led, through the town, through the village and down to the river.

Once at the river we were treated to a feast of flame and sparks to invoke the spirit of times gone by in some far off Tolkien land. Fireworks illuminates the sky, dragons raced around the field and minstrels made merry as the bookworms gathered on the embankment overlooking the arena.

We wont wait 15 years to go again.