A GIANT moon, stars and lanterns thrilled a crowd of about 3,000 people in the breathtaking and ethereal finale to the Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival.

They flocked to Slaithwaite on Saturday for a host of events – culminating in a spectacular parade and ceremony by the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Click below to view pictures from the event.

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The day started with a Handmade Trail, organised by Ammie Flexen, where many of the businesses put on a special event.

There were lots of ‘pop-up shops’ at the Methodist Church and the Civic Hall and some food stalls in the Wharfside Car Park.

People were invited to follow the trail and visit all these attractions.

It was well attended, with up to 500 visitors at many venues. Around 6pm, the crowds started to roll in around the circular car park, attracted by the drummers and other bands who were on stage.

The area surrounding the canal was decorated with brightly-coloured woollen items supplied by the wool group who meet every Tuesday at the Water Shed in Bridge Street.

At 6.30pm, the moon came sailing down the canal and was hoisted out to the cheers of the now substantial crowds.

The moon was carried to the head of the procession that formed up, carried by a team of fancy dress gnomes.

A large rocket announced the start of the procession and the crowd followed the moon round the village.

When the last person reached the Little Bridge Restaurant, the moon had travelled along the canal to the next lock and back to the church, at Bank Gate, a distance of about half a mile.

Estimates varied from 2,800 to 3,500 people taking part, with eight bands and a count of about 220 lanterns illuminated by candles.

The theme was Time, and many of the lanterns were clocks or Dr Who items. Floating lanterns sponsored by the businesses in the village were to be seen in the canal opposite the Handmade Bakery.

Returning to the round car park, the crowds cheered as the moon was once again returned to its boat.

The event was rounded off with a rather grand fireworks display, with magnificent rockets shooting high into the sky.

The Master of Ceremonies was Gill Bond, of Satellite Arts, and the fireworks and staged moon handling was done by Paboom.

Festival spokesman, Howard Walker said: “It had been expected that numbers would have been down on the last festival, due to the financial climate, but as the parade is free to attend, everyone turned up to enjoy another great night of family fun and entertainment.”

After the finale, there was a Ceilidh organised by the Community Association, led by Ali Robson, which was attended by around 350 people. Many of the pubs put on live entertainment with bands and musicians.

The next Moonraking Festival will be in February 2015.

Mr Walker said: “This is not just a one-day event, however, it is the most obvious bit of our celebrations of the tale of Moonraking.”

The festival’s origins date back to the early 19th century when the Huddersfield Narrow Canal was built through Slaithwaite.

Legend has it that Fred and his pals found there was money to be made from smuggling and one night were loading barrels of illicit booze when an excise man appeared.

The booze was quickly dumped in the water and they returned brazenly later that night to retrieve it.

However, two excise men caught the smugglers red-handed but quick-thinking Fred told them in his broad Yorkshire accent that the moon had fallen out of the sky and they were raking it out.