Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels

About Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels

Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels is one of Devon's most extraordinary and fiercely local traditions, dating back centuries. On Bonfire Night, residents hoist barrels soaked in tar onto their shoulders and run them, blazing, through the packed streets of the town. It is loud, hot and gloriously unlike anything else in the festival calendar.

Thousands line the narrow streets to watch the spectacle unfold from afternoon into the night, with food stalls, a funfair and a huge bonfire adding to the atmosphere. It is free to attend, deeply rooted in the community, and a proper Devon night out for anyone who likes their traditions with a bit of fire.