The ninth Barlaston Wassail takes place on New Year’s Eve with a walk over the Downs and a fire torch parade through the village in honour of Barlaston’s Anglo Saxon heritage.
The meeting place for the walk over Barlaston Downs is Barlaston Village Green car park at 9.30pm. The fire torch parade through the village starts after 11.30pm from the Duke of York pub.
The event grows and grows and this year 12 new huge waterproof banners depicting the Anglo-Saxon celebrities are being introduced. Standard bearers will carry the 12 Anglo-Saxon themed banners representing the 12 calendar months delivering wassail – meaning good cheer – as the Anglo-Saxon procession tours around the village.
Barlaston is named after ‘Beornwulf’, who is believed to have been the first Anglo Saxon settler in the village.
The event this year is raising funds for the Midland Air Ambulance. Entrance is £3 (including a raffle ticket to win the famous Barlaston Wassail Tankard. Call Tim Cockin on 01782 372067 for more information or email timcockin@yahoo.com
