DESPITE the postponement of the full 2020 Dartmoor Folk Festival, the festival’s traditional competitions and some fun activities will still be going ahead online,’ writes Alan Quick.

The festival was due to take place at South Zeal near Okehampton this week — August 6, 7 and 8.

Instead, on Saturday, August 8, the traditional Dartmoor step dance and broom dancing competitions will take place via zoom meetings.

For further details and to enter either of the competitions, please visit: www.dartmoorfolkfestival.org.uk .

The website also has instructional videos on how to learn the steps for the dances.

The broom dance is open to children of primary school age only.

Judges will judge the dance competitions and the results will be announced afterwards.

The festival’s artistic director, Mark Bazeley, explained: ‘We are very sad that the Dartmoor Folk Festival won’t be running this year, nothing can replace the great music, company and atmosphere of the festival, but we thought we could try and keep the wonderful step and broom dancing traditions running.

‘Thanks to Matt Norman and Richard De Salis we’re going to be taking to the internet via zoom and YouTube to bring you step dancers and broom dancers from their own homes competing in the competition.’

If anyone has any questions, please email: [email protected]

Another important and increasingly popular part of the annual Dartmoor Folk Festival is the children’s festival which is directed by Entertainingly Different’s Rob Pudner.

Rob will be streaming his ever popular ‘Rise and Shine’ show on the Dartmoor Folk Festival Facebook page live at 9.30am on Saturday, August 8. The fun festival favourite will be fully interactive and suitable for young and old alike, jam packed with interactive songs, stories, silliness and shout outs.

The 43rd Dartmoor Folk Festival is due to take place on August 6, 7 and 8, 2021.