Unfortunately, Freaks is no longer managing to meet four times a year for want of organizers. However:

Next Event:

Tideswell, 29th to 30th March, 2025

Base

Based in Tideswell Community Hall, Church Lane, SK17 8PD. Note that this is not the Institute we've used before! Please note that dogs aren't allowed in the hall.

Parking for the hall is the big, level carpark for the playing fields, which is less than 5 mins walk away; it's probably still signed for Bishop Pursglove School off St John's Rd, nearly opposite the hall. Campers are required to park up there, as are all vehicles because parking on both sides of the road through the village near the hall, makes the road too narrow for the buses and trucks going through. Please leave the couple of spaces at the hall for the organizers.

This village looks superb with its daffodils and spring flowers so it is a great time of year to be there.

All individuals are welcome — dancers and musicians — whether you have done border morris before or not; come and give it a try. You can do as much or little as you like. We are a friendly welcoming group, and each venue, we get some new Freaks.

Details

Friday night: Meet in the Horse and Jockey, Queens Street, down the road from the hall whenever people turn up, but there should at least be people there by 7. Food served from 5pm to 8pm, but not doing its usual Indian takeaway. The hall will be open from 6, though the key might be with someone in the pub.

Saturday morning: From 10am, we will be teaching the dances in the Community Hall until lunch time. Freaks has a repertoire of relatively simple dances, the vast majority of which are suitable for beginners. Sticks will be available, and some spare hankies, but do bring your own hankies and sticks if you wish.

Lunch: Have your own food in the hall or elsewhere, or you can get food for the many food outlets and pubs in the village. Freaks have some face paints if you want to decorate your faces (not obligatory).

2pm Saturday we will dance out the dances we have learnt at various locations in the village … until about 5pm when we return to the Hall for R and R.

Those that want to eat with the group in the hall, need to contribute supplies to the communal meal and then ideas and time (!!) to preparing the meal. If you would prefer to eat elsewhere that is completely fine. After the evening meal we dance, play music and have fun in the Community Hall.

Sunday we start from the hall at 10.30, in tatter jackets and with instruments, sticks and hankies for a shortish walk through the beautiful limestone scenery to Litton. At Litton we can get lunch at the pub or tea shop and we will dance there before returning to the hall in Tideswell.

Everyone helps clear the hall by 5.30pm so that we leave it as clean as we found it.

Parking for the hall is the big, level carpark for the playing fields, which is less than 5 mins walk away. Campers are required to park up there, as are all vehicles because parking on both sides of the road through the village near the hall, makes the road too narrow for the buses and trucks going through.

Accommodation etc.

There is ‘indoor camping’ available in the hall for Friday and Saturday nights — bring a sleeping bag and camping mat etc. It's £10 for either one or both nights.

Sorry no particular suggestions for more salubrious accommodation other than the wonders of the web.

Notes

  • The charge for attending Freaks is £10 per head (possibly to be reduced this time).
  • Dance and music notation are available from here (dances) or here (tunes) – feel free to suggest others. Please download these if you want them, though some paper copies might be available on the day.
  • If you have any good pictures, please send them to Freaks@freaksinthepeaks.com for the photo gallery.
  • See the contacts link if you need to contact us in general before before the event.
  • For info on the day or in advance, Elmo's mobile is O78Ol 3l2466, depending on reception.
  • If you have them, please bring rag jackets or similar; bells; sticks/hankies; and photos of previous events!
  • If you find yourself needing our constitution, it's here
  • Lastly, a reminder that everyone is welcome – especially beginners and musicians

Following Event:

Nothing arranged yet. Volunteers welcome!

Inspired?

If you have been a few times and like Freaks then possibly you are feeling inspired to organise a Freaks, maybe somewhere near you, or simply somewhere Freaks has never been before, see our Tips for organisers (32Kb Word doc) or PDF version.