THE streets were buzzing with talk about the start of the 38th Grassington Festival last Friday.

There was a buzz around the village as Grassington’s main street was adorned with brightly coloured festival flags and banners, the village square was transformed by an impressive marquee and cobbles turned to grass with the addition of a wildflower meadow, created by The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, artist Helen Peyton and local schoolchildren.

Children delighted in the antics of ThisEgg’s Me and My Bee play, but behind the humour was an informative and vital message about the importance of bees, their decline and what people can do to help.

Later on Friday evening, the Festival Hall welcomed electro swing band Swing Zazou for a night of song and dance.

On Saturday morning, the festival’s first weekend was marked in style with an opening procession.

Members of the community paraded up and down the streets of Grassington in a whirl of sound and colour, headed by Dave Mitchell and Loud Minority Samba Band, and followed by an array of puppets created by residents and schoolchildren with the help of artist Carine Brosse.

“Year 2 children from the four schools of the Upper Wharfedale Primary Federation created magnificent mini-beasts for the opening parade,” said school governor Nicky White.

The appearance of rain did not dampen the spirits of festival-goers, with the party continuing into the afternoon in Grassington Square, with live entertainment and other events.

Up-and-coming band Noble Jacks played to rave reviews on Saturday evening, with support from Huw Eddy and the Carnival, at the Festival Hall.

On Sunday morning the square was transformed once again by the popular Food Festival. Demonstrations by top local chefs John Rudding (Grassington House), Simon Bolsover (The Coniston Hotel), Stephanie Moon (Rudding Park), Struan Macintyre (Alexanders) and Bruce Elsworth (Elsworth Kitchen – soon to open in Skipton) brought an element of class to the day.

The demonstrations were complemented by an array of food stalls.

Locals showed off their baking skills for the first ever Great Grassington Cake-Off, with winning cakes selected by John Rudden himself.

By mid-afternoon the square was bustling with music by the Ski Band.

The weekend was brought to a close with Skipton Camerata’s gala concert at Bolton Abbey Priory Church, featuring soloists Peyee Chen and Sophie Rosa, and conducted by Ben Crick.

One audience member said: “What a fantastic and moving concert; we are so lucky to have an opportunity to hear these wonderful singers and orchestra in such delightful surroundings.”