Lympstone’s Furry Dance takes place this Saturday, August 3, and organisers hope to see residents and visitors joining the fancy dress fun.

Activities will be taking place throughout the day, but the main event is the Furry Dance procession through the village, which starts at 5.30pm.

A spokesperson for the organisers said: “We've all been working really hard to put together a great day of activity and entertainment, which we hope will be supported by locals and visitors alike.

“We'd encourage anyone to come along, dress up, join in or just spectate and enjoy the food, live music, dancing and entertainment that's being put on for Lympstone's annual Furry Dance!”

The exact origins of the dance have been lost in time, but it’s thought to have celebrated the safe return of local fishermen who had been trading their fish for furs in Novia Scotia in the 1800s. After months away, the men would  be welcomed home by their girlfriends, wives and children dancing through the streets.

Saturday’s events will begin at 12 noon at Cliff Field.

12pm: Boney Stone Memorial Football Match

2pm: Dog Show, with multiple categories, so there are plenty of opportunities to win! £2 entry per dog, per category. Registration opens at 12pm.

3.30pm: Fancy Dress Competition, arranged by age group (free to enter)

There will be food stands, a bar, cream teas (or coffees) from the Scout Hut, all available until 5pm.

There will also be a bouncy castle and glitter tattoos for the young and the young at heart!

At The Swan there will be live music provided by local bands Salty Bandits (2pm) and The Looseners (3.30pm)

A miniature steam engine and a Green Goddess will  be out and about in the village during the day.

At 5.30, the Furry Dance will begin. Lympstone Academy Brass and Lympstone Band will lead the procession, which will start at The Globe.

There will be a pause for ‘a quick boogie’ outside The Swan  and another outside The Redwing, before the final stage to Front Meadow, opposite the church. There the bands will perform a concert of old and new songs for 30-40 minutes.

Visitors are welcome to join the procession, or bring a picnic to Front Meadow to wait there for the dancers to arrive.

At about 6.30, the bands will lead the procession back to the village centre, and the raffle will be drawn. The prizes, donated by local businesses, include vouchers for several eateries including The Saddlers, Mariners Café and Come Fry With Me; champagne from Lympstone Manor; family cycle hire from Exmouth Cycles; a beautiful print of Lympstone by local artist Samantha Frances; rum from Two Drifters, and a weekend family pass for four people including camping at Gone Wild Festival, worth nearly £500. Tickets will be available from outside The Swan on the day

The evening's entertainment is live music, with Revision Party at The Swan from 8pm, and The Set at The Redwing from 9pm.

The finale will be fireworks launched from Lympstone harbour at 9.45, organised by the LFHA and Ingham Fisheries.

The organisers' spokesperson said: "Come and join us for what is sure to be a fabulous day of festivities, we look forward to seeing you in all your finery!"

Further information can be found on the Lympstone Furry Dance Facebook page.