Fete de l'Ours

we went to Arles sur Tech today for the bear festival.  It was great fun but rather crazy.  The whole town seem to participate with many dressed up and taking part in what seems rather like an interactive outdoor pantomime. The participants and visitors (about 2,000 was estimated for the occasion) all charge down the narrow streets following the main actors and a band. At various points they stop , play out a scene such as the one in the main blip, then there's a lot of dancing before they move on.  In the afternoon a bear chases the 'young maiden' (as well as other women in the crowds, tackling them to the floor) and eventually there's a balcony scene where the bear is  caught and the maiden rescued. Photography was challenging as hard to keep up with the main players and it was so crowded especially in the afternoon.