| Where: | Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire - starting Saturday at Warley at St John's Church and Sunday at St Peter's Church, Sowerby |
| When: | 1st weekend in September |
| Time: | From 10am Saturday & 10 am Sunday |
The annual Rushbearing Festival at Sowerby Bridge takes place early in September each year and is a revival of an ancient custom. Its origins lie in the tradition of carrying fresh rushes to church to put on the beaten earth floor – few such events survive today because most churches lost their festivities when they improved their flooring long ago. The event begins with rushes being piled high on a special rushcart – the thatching process takes over a week but is complete by Saturday morning- which is blessed at the church at 10.15. The decorated cart parades its way arund the local villages all day accompanied by morris men, mummers and other entertainers. On Sunday, the special Rushbearing Service is held at St Peter’s Church at Sowerby from 10 am followed by another procession and more dancing through the day.
Helpful Hints
A full route map and programme are available on the website & Facebook links below. Refreshments are available at set points on the route.
In 2025 it should be on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September – keep checking the links below for updates.
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Rushbearing/
Click here for the event website : http://www.rushbearing.com/
This will be my 3rd Rushbearing Festival in Sowerby Bridge and this year will be the day after my Wedding – even holding off the Honeymoon, so myself and Darren can attend.
That’s dedication for you!!
Averil
Is the rushbearing going ahead this September 2021
Hi Yvonne,
I messaged the organisers, and they’re currently in discussion with the council about it so no decision has yet been made. Keep an eye on the Facebook page and website that belong to them (links are under Helpful Hints on the calendarcustoms site) and I’ll put an update on here as soon as I can find anything out.
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi Yvonne,
In case you haven’t seen it, the Rushbearing is confirmed as going ahead and you can find the route map and timings on the event website at https://rushbearing.com/this-years-rushbearing/
Enjoy!
Averil
Hi, the website like doesn’t appear to be working. Is here anywhere I can find the itinerary ? Thanks 🙂
Hi Harriet,
I’ve just checked the link and it appears to be working fine now- I found the itinerary at https://rushbearing.com/this-years-rushbearing/route-schedule/
And the approximate timings are below the map with an option to print a copy further down the page.
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi Harriet,
If you’re having trouble with the Rushbearing website, the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Rushbearing now has all the timings up -just added this afternoon,
Averil