No tickets.Just tradition.
For generations, the people of Ottery St Mary have carried Tar Barrels with pride, effort and community backing.
No tickets. Just tradition.
For generations, the people of Ottery St Mary have carried Tar Barrels with pride, effort and community backing.
5th November 2026
A night shaped by Ottery and sustained by all who stand behind it.
Rooted in Ottery.
Kept alive by its people and those who support it.
This is not a staged attraction or a commercial event. It is a long held custom, passed through generations and built on local pride, hard work and shared commitment.
What visitors see for one night rests on months of effort and the strength of the community around it.
The Faces Behind The Flames
The fire may be what first catches the eye. The hands, families and faces behind it are what make the night possible.
Families
The tradition is carried from one generation to the next.
Volunteers
The night depends on the people working behind the scenes.
Community
Local support helps keep the tradition alive year after year.
Help keep Ottery rolling
Tar Barrels runs on far more than history alone.
It depends on fundraising, sponsorship, programme sales, merchandise and the generosity of those who want to see it continue.
If it matters to you, please help us carry it forward.
If you are joining us
Whether you have been coming for years or are visiting for the first time, the best way to enjoy the night is to come prepared, follow guidance, and respect the people who make it possible.
For your safety and the safety of others we ask you to read the information linked below.
A tradition through time
Tar Barrels has long been part of Ottery. Its story reaches back through centuries of ritual, remembrance and community life, and it continues because each generation chooses to carry it on.