Allendale Wolf

The Allen Valleys Folk Festival is a recently founded Northumbrian celebration of folk music and dance, and as well as a packed programme of musical activities the 3 day event includes the unique Burning of the Allendale Wolf. Not content with a fantastic New Year celebration featuring fire and tar barrels (see Allendale Tar Barrels article for more information), the pyromaniacs of the town now craft a bonfire in the shape of a wolf- on my first visit it was a head with cunningly constructed jaws which opened and closed, and every year the construction is different. It’s such a beautiful work of art that it almost seems a shame to set it alight! A storyteller shares the legend of the Allendale wolf, which involves the escape of a domesticated animal brought to the dale by a retired colonel, as well as mysterious stones and spooky goings on (I shan’t give too many spoilers) before the pyre is torched and the wolf is burned up for another year. The crowd is invited to howl like the wolf as the fire burns!

Helpful Hints

In 2025 it should be on Saturday September 27th. In 2024 the fire was lit well ahead of the scheduled time so I’d advise going early!

Check the official site for the full line-up and schedule – as it’s a new event it may take a few years to develop into a set routine. We’ll definitely be back – the still photos can’t do justice to the snapping jaws so we need to make a video!

It’s a family friendly event and free to attend. The fire burns up very hot so be prepared to shift position to avoid the flames! It’s much easier to park around the town in September than at New Year (but it’s still a good idea to avoid the Market Place as that’s where the fire is lit).

The local Allendale Brewery make a special ale named after the Allendale Wolf.

Click here for the event website: https://www.allenvalleysfolkfestival.co.uk

and here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AllenValleysFolkFestival/

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