Two street artists have helped celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Lake District and the launch of the Lakes Alive’s summer season of outdoor shows, by performing on top of a Cumbrian mountain.
Jem Famous, who lives in Ambleside staged the show with fellow performer Campbell Innes.
The two street artists gave the UK’s highest outdoor show earlier today, on a Lakeland mountain where a traditional summer fair took place in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The annual shepherds’ meet was held each year on High Street on the 12th July up until 1835.
People from surrounding valleys would gather on the mountain, then known as Racecourse Hill, to take part in games and wrestling.
They would also take the opportunity to return stray sheep to their owners.
High Street, which is 2,700 feet high, was also a Roman road between Ambleside and Penrith and is popular with fell walkers.
The pair performed a show called ‘Grow Your Own’ which features juggling with a sickle and Peter Rabbit’s daring escape from Mr McGregor’s sack.
Jem Famous said: “It was an extraordinary day of performing, even by our standards. Everyone up on High Street had a big surprise and a lot of fun. In fact it was the first show we’ve done where not one person walked past without stopping to watch.
Lakes Alive is Cumbria’s unique contribution to the Legacy Trust UK programme, which was set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
The Lake District National Park was established on 13th August 1951 and is England’s largest National Park, covering 2,292 square kilometres.
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