The origins of the competition are somewhat lost in time, but this year will be at least the 24th year of the contest. Author Terry Pratchett, whose books inspired the competition, attended in the year 2000 and donated the grand prize – the coveted Bucket d’Or, which lives at the Old Road Tavern. The contest takes place on Chippenham Folk Festival Sunday (this year Sunday 28th May) at 6pm outside the Old Road Tavern, and the only rules are there has to be a dance, a stick and a bucket. The rest is up to the competitors – and entries have invariably included buckets of water and other substances, more interpretations of a stick than you could… er… shake a stick at, and heaps of zany silliness and laughter. Some competitors make their dance up on the spot, while others practice for months. Our crack team of judges will make their decision and award the Bucket d’Or. Bring your sticks, buckets, dancing feet and audience support to the Old Road Tavern to enter just before the competition starts. And make us all laugh.