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In Pictures: Foam, fire and festivals – the lighter side of 2024

PA News
10:00, 25 December 2024  | Updated: 10:03, 25 December 2024

Despite the backdrop of global wars and a continuing cost-of-living crisis, Britons still found time to have fun in 2024.

From racing through mud on lawnmowers to riding penny farthings while dressed in tweed, people up and down the country still found unusual ways to enjoy themselves.

Here the PA news agency looks at some of the more bizarre activities of 2024.

The Jarl Squad set light to the galley in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa fire festival (Andrew Milligan/PA)
The Jarl Squad set light to the galley in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa fire festival (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Originating in the 1880s, the festival celebrates Shetland’s Norse heritage (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Originating in the 1880s, the festival celebrates Shetland’s Norse heritage (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Riders gather before the start of the annual Tweed Run (Jeff Moore/PA)
Riders gather before the start of the annual Tweed Run (Jeff Moore/PA)
Dogs and penny farthings were on show during the annual cycling event in London (Jeff Moore/PA)
Dogs and penny farthings were on show during the annual cycling event in London (Jeff Moore/PA)
Members of the Pentacle Drummers perform in front of a burning wicker man (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Members of the Pentacle Drummers perform in front of a burning wicker man (Andrew Matthews/PA)
The Beltain Celtic Fire Festival took place at Butser Ancient Farm, near Waterlooville, Hampshire (Andrew Matthews/PA)
The Beltain Celtic Fire Festival took place at Butser Ancient Farm, near Waterlooville, Hampshire (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Competitors race in a heat during the World Lawnmower Championships (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Competitors race in a heat during the World Lawnmower Championships (Andrew Matthews/PA)
The event is held by the British Lawn Mower Racing Association at Pondfield Farm, Alford, Surrey (Andrew Matthews/PA)
The event is held by the British Lawn Mower Racing Association at Pondfield Farm, Alford, Surrey (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Competitors take part in the annual Maldon Mud Race in Essex (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Competitors take part in the annual Maldon Mud Race in Essex (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Building restoration specialists abseil down the walls of Warwick Castle during the landmark’s annual external clean (Jacob King/PA)
Building restoration specialists abseil down the walls of Warwick Castle during the landmark’s annual external clean (Jacob King/PA)
Students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight (Jane Barlow/PA)
Students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight (Jane Barlow/PA)
The event takes place on St Salvator’s Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife (Jane Barlow/PA)
The event takes place on St Salvator’s Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife (Jane Barlow/PA)
People jump the fire during the Beltane celebrations at Glastonbury Chalice Well (Ben Birchall/PA)
People jump the fire during the Beltane celebrations at Glastonbury Chalice Well (Ben Birchall/PA)
A green man observes a modern interpretation of the ancient Celtic pagan fertility rite of spring (Ben Birchall/PA)
A green man observes a modern interpretation of the ancient Celtic pagan fertility rite of spring (Ben Birchall/PA)
Participants during an annual bonfire night procession held by the Lewes Bonfire Societies (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Participants during an annual bonfire night procession held by the Lewes Bonfire Societies (Gareth Fuller/PA)
The parade goes through the town of Lewes in East Sussex (Gareth Fuller/PA)
The parade goes through the town of Lewes in East Sussex (Gareth Fuller/PA)

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