ENGLAND’S patron saint will be celebrated in style this Saturday as both Huntingdon and Eynesbury plan a fun-packed festival of damsels and dragons.

HUNTINGDONSHIRE is being asked to show a bit of pride in England this weekend at two events celebrating St George’s Day.

England’s patron saint’s day on Saturday (April 23) has sparked family fun events in both Huntingdon and Eynesbury, where there will be dragons, damsels, a parade and even a giant.

The giant, of course, will be making a guest appearance at the events at Eynesbury Green where local historian Peter Ibbett will be conducting a guided walk around the village. Visitors will have the chance to trace the story of Eynesbury giant James Toller, who was more than 8ft tall.

The event, now in its second year, will feature jugglers, conjurers and ventriloquists as well as displays by the majorettes from the St Neots Sentinels and St Neots folk dance group, Heartsease. Anyone with a dog can also enter the dog show competition.

There will also be a grand prize draw where a week’s holiday for six in Great Yarmouth is up for grabs along with two bicycles, Champagne and leisure vouchers.

All proceeds will go to the Eynesbury Village Association.

The events run from noon, while at 6pm the music will start up with a two-hour gig by rock group Jacen Bruce and the Memphis Underground.

In Huntingdon, St George’s Day kicks off at 10am with a parade down the High Street to the market square, led by the Air Cadet Force Corp of Drums.

There will be a fancy dress competition with children invited to come in mediaeval-themed dress, before St George’s triumphant slaying of the dragon is re-enacted by actors from Walton Historical Services at 11.30am and again at 2.30pm

In the afternoon there will be more fun in Chequers Court with some story-telling (1.15pm-1.45pm) and a puppet show (2pm-2.30pm). There will also be a church service at St Mary’s at 6pm.

Anyone with a sharp eye can take part in the ‘Find the Dragon’ competition. Symbols of dragons spelling out the letters of St George will be on display in shop windows.

Rounding off the day will be a dinner organised by the Royal Society of St George at the Old Bridge Hotel.

Royal Society member and St Neots town councillor Steve van de Kerkhove told The Hunts Post: “We’ve almost become shy about celebrating our own patron saint in this country.

“So let’s get out, let’s be proud of being English and let’s celebrate St George’s Day.”

INFORMATION: Entry to both events is free, although there is a small charge for the entrants of the dog show competition in Eynesbury. See www.eynesburyvillageassociation.org.uk