Ely Eel Day
Annual celebration in Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK
title: "Ely Eel Day" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["april", "may", "festivals-in-cambridgeshire", "ely,-cambridgeshire", "eels"] description: "Annual celebration in Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK" topic_path: "general/april" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ely_Eel_Day" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Annual celebration in Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox holiday"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| holiday_name | Ely Eel Day |
| type | local |
| longtype | Cultural, Historical |
| image | Eel day parade.jpg |
| nickname | Eel Festival Weekend |
| observedby | Inhabitants of Ely |
| scheduling | first Saturday before Early May Bank Holiday |
| weekday | Saturday |
| date2014 | 3 May |
| date2015 | 2 May |
| date2016 | 30 April |
| date2017 | 29 April |
| date2018 | 5 May |
| date2019 | 4 May |
| date2020 | 8 May |
| celebrations | parade, eel throwing competition |
| duration | 1 day |
| frequency | annual |
| :: |
|holiday_name = Ely Eel Day |type = local |longtype = Cultural, Historical |image = Eel day parade.jpg |caption = |official_name = |nickname = Eel Festival Weekend |observedby = Inhabitants of Ely |begins = |ends = |scheduling = first Saturday before Early May Bank Holiday |week_ordinal = |weekday = Saturday |month = |date2014 = 3 May |date2015 = 2 May |date2016 = 30 April |date2017 = 29 April |date2018 = 5 May |date2019 = 4 May |date2020 = 8 May |celebrations = parade, eel throwing competition |duration = 1 day |frequency = annual |observances = |relatedto =
Ely Eel Day is an annual celebration observed by the people of Ely, Cambridgeshire to celebrate the city's namesake — the eel. The celebrations start with a parade which begins from Cross Green outside Ely Cathedral and proceeds through the city to the Jubilee Gardens, passing by the Market Square and along the River Great Ouse at Ely's Waterside.
The celebrations following the parade include an eel throwing competition. The competition does not use real eels. Originally competitors were given socks rolled into some tights with rice in the end to weight it down but now the competition uses specially made toy eels. Other events on Eel Day include an annual competition for Town Criers.
Eel Day is traditionally held on the Saturday of the May Bank Holiday weekend.
References
References
- "Ely People - Eel Day Festival 2011". Elypeople.co.uk.
- Haines, Oscar. (2007-04-29). "I defended my eel-throwing title!". BBC.
- "Ely People - Eel Day Festival 2012 Competition Results". Elypeople.co.uk.
- "elys_annual_eel_day". Arts Development East Cambridgeshire.
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