THE tenth Burley Summer Festival got underway with an energetic Zumba Outdoors while dogs from around the region gathered to take part in the fun dog which featured classes for young handlers, the cheekiest puppy and best rescue.

The Great Burley Bake-off returned for a second year alongside the Wharfedale Scone Roses ‘Burley Teas’ and Burley Oaks PTA games during which the Anchor Band played in the park.

Saturday night saw the first of the live music events of the Festival. The Wharfedale Chamber Ensemble, which goes from strength to strength, was conducted this year by Ben Crick, Director of Skipton Camerata and led by Clare Richards. They provided a varied programme, a highlight of which was a performance of Quantz’s flute concerto in G major with 18-year old Issy Haley-Porteous as the accomplished soloist.

Across the road in the Queen’s Hall there was a tenth Anniversary Party, Burley resident Clarissa Arundel said “The band Mirage were great, the singer had a great voice and everyone was up dancing.”

Despite the forecast, the rain held off Sunday morning and the sun made an appearance as a strong congregation turned out for the Burley Churches Together outdoor service for in Grange Park.

Thousands of visitors descended in and around Grange Park for the ever-popular Classic Show, also in its tenth year, along with the Arts, Crafts and Vintage Markets, a Living Healthy event, a variety of stalls in the Library, Grange House and Park, donkey rides, an owls display, obstacle course and music from the Ukulele Jammers and Silsden Town Band.

The Festival continues until to Bank Holiday Monday with a host of events and activities including a variety of walks, singing, dancing, dancing, gymnastic, drama and Lego workshops, a Japanese culture and calligraphy evening, a talk on Burley’s contribution during WW1, a family sports competition, drinks Festival and live music events on many evenings.

Residents and businesses contributed to one of the Festival’s largest Scarecrow Trails to date, with over 90 book-themed creations from the Mr Men to Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit, a number of Roald Dahl characters and various interpretations of the very hungry caterpillar.

Key events this coming weekend include Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads performed by local theatre group Spotty Socks on Friday evening at the Queen’s Hall, the ever popular Opera Evening with a quartet of singers from Opera North on Saturday and on Sunday the Scarecrow Prize Giving and the cutting of the tenth Anniversary Cake.