Eel Festival
This celebration of all things slithery includes everything from eel throwing to eel tastings. (Yes, Road Trips Foodies, real people eat eel.)
It all starts at 10:30 a.m. April 30, 2011, with a procession that snakes through the city of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom, headed up by (who else?) Ellie the Eel. The day-long annual festival also includes folk music, dancing, historical displays, games, craft and food stalls.
At the end of the procession, in Jubilee Gardens, everyone can tuck into smoked and jellied eels washed down by a special Eel Day brew. (As eels are an acquired taste, there is a hog-roast or falafel alternative.)
It should be pointed out before the PETA folks get involved that the eel throwing doesn’t involve actual eels. One tosses handmade eel socks, not living (or dead) fish — yes, eel are elongated fish.
For more information on visiting Ely, go online.
(Photo of smoked eel by Tasja via Wikipedia Commons)