Beef encounter for town in carnival mood

The parade brings artists into communities to create parades, festivals and stunning celebrations.

Staged by artists, puppeteers, makers, musicians, stilt walkers and performers based around Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd, the event is now in its sixth year.

Close to a thousand people took part in the annual parade.

A girl on stilts dressed as a toucan led the parade, which this year featured giant versions of endangered and extinct polar, ocean, desert, savannah and jungle creatures.

Each year residents of 
the West Yorkshire town create the costumes in special workshops over the course of three weeks, with the making open to anyone who wants to 
participate.

A spokesman said: “With 
an ace team of local professional carnival artists, volunteers, guest artists (sometimes 
from around the world) and some killer street bands, we create just the occasion to dance down the streets of Hebden Bridge.”

Stef Reach, of Sheffield, was among those who attended. He said: “It feels unique and almost surreal seeing all of this.

“It has certainly brought a lot of people into the town.”