Alffe no i have never been to the Allendale Tar Barrel event [but would love to go one day]
Below is a festival tradition that is on my door step.....every year first Fiday in June.
10 villages stage whats called 'the greatest free show on earth'
It goes on all day, some bigger villages get up to 100 bands pass through. Where i go about 50 [this year about 45 as it was raining all day]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhVGOlDNEYM
David