In Pictures: Foam, fire and festivals – the lighter side of 2024

In Pictures: Foam, fire and festivals – the lighter side of 2024Crazy races and fiery processions helped raise spirits through a difficult year.Competitors take part in the annual Maldon Mud Race (Gareth Fuller/PA)PA Archive

Despite the backdrop of global wars and a continuing cost-of-living crisis, Britons still found time to have fun in 2024.

From racing through mud on lawnmowers to riding penny farthings while dressed in tweed, people up and down the country still found unusual ways to enjoy themselves.

Here the PA news agency looks at some of the more bizarre activities of 2024.

The Jarl Squad set light to the galley in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa fire festival (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA ArchiveOriginating in the 1880s, the festival celebrates Shetland’s Norse heritage (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA ArchiveRiders gather before the start of the annual Tweed Run (Jeff Moore/PA)PA ArchiveDogs and penny farthings were on show during the annual cycling event in London (Jeff Moore/PA)PA ArchiveMembers of the Pentacle Drummers perform in front of a burning wicker man (Andrew Matthews/PA)PA ArchiveThe Beltain Celtic Fire Festival took place at Butser Ancient Farm, near Waterlooville, Hampshire (Andrew Matthews/PA)PA ArchiveCompetitors race in a heat during the World Lawnmower Championships (Andrew Matthews/PA)PA ArchiveThe event is held by the British Lawn Mower Racing Association at Pondfield Farm, Alford, Surrey (Andrew Matthews/PA)PA ArchiveCompetitors take part in the annual Maldon Mud Race in Essex (Gareth Fuller/PA)PA ArchiveBuilding restoration specialists abseil down the walls of Warwick Castle during the landmark’s annual external clean (Jacob King/PA)PA WireStudents take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight (Jane Barlow/PA)PA WireThe event takes place on St Salvator’s Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife (Jane Barlow/PA)PA WirePeople jump the fire during the Beltane celebrations at Glastonbury Chalice Well (Ben Birchall/PA)PA ArchiveA green man observes a modern interpretation of the ancient Celtic pagan fertility rite of spring (Ben Birchall/PA)PA ArchiveParticipants during an annual bonfire night procession held by the Lewes Bonfire Societies (Gareth Fuller/PA)PA WireThe parade goes through the town of Lewes in East Sussex (Gareth Fuller/PA)PA Wire