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Costumes, games and music at hobbit festival

Andy Broxton,in Weston Parkand
Andrew Dawkins,West Midlands
News imageBBC Dozens of people in costume are in a field. A sign hanging above some visitors in the foreground includes the words The Four Farthing Games. Many large trees are in the background.BBC
The event has included The Four Farthing Games, in which four groups of hobbits compete against each other

Tolkien fans have been visiting an immersive festival giving them the opportunity to live as a hobbit.

The five-day Brandywine Festival, at Weston Park on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border until Sunday, has featured visitors dressing like the Middle-earth characters. Modern clothing, patterns, logos and materials are not allowed.

Traditional games and themed workshops and meals were due at the event, along with music and dancing.

The location was chosen, the organiser said, because of JRR Tolkien's links with the West Midlands. Hobbits appear in his Middle-earth books: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

The author grew up in Birmingham and is believed to have based some of the fictional locations on the landscapes of the region.

Asked what would happen on Friday and over the weekend, event director Thomas Miller pointed out first that every day it had "The Four Farthing Games", in which hobbits compete against each other.

He added: "[On] Saturday night of course we'll be figuring out which Farthing won those games and handing over the Four Farthings Cup.

"We also have dance workshops each morning and each afternoon."

News imageThe faces of four people in costume sitting down are visible. At least three of them are sitting on what could be a wooden structure and carrying out an activity outside. Another person is standing up in the background.
People were asked to stay in costume throughout the festival

Miller said the event had basket weaving classes, walking stick carving, music and activities "where you can go find yourself [in]... a bit of trouble and of course all designed fully immersive, meaning that you leave your past life behind and join us as a hobbit for those hours."

Thursday evening featured music and visitors were dancing in costume.

Asked about that, the event director replied: "I think the empty bottles of wine near the camp fire probably say a lot about it."

News imageWhat could be a postbox-style box on the left includes the word Proudfoot, which is also among the words on a sign on the right.
Visitors were asked to choose hobbit names for themselves

Miller also said that among the aspects of the festival it had "got the Shirriffs' outpost of course ensuring the quality of the games and the quality of the drinks".

"We see the stage and the tavern where players gather each night in their characters to go over the day's activities."

News imageA man is at a stall featuring two black and white signs to the left and right of a table, which has dozens of bottles on the top of it and the word mead written on a white cloth that is visible to people approaching the stall.
Some of those attending were selling items at stalls
News imageSomeone in costume is sitting at a table that features nine containers. Two white tents and trees are in the background.
The five-day Brandywine Festival takes place at Weston Park until Sunday
News imageTwo people is partially white and yellow costumes are standing in a field with trees in the background at the top of the photo.
The event has featured people playing traditional games

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