Hundreds of people are expected to attend the UK's first hobbit festival, the five-day Brandywine Festival, which begins on Wednesday at Weston Park on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border. Guests are invited to dress and act like the Middle-earth characters throughout the event.
The festival has issued detailed guidance on how attendees should dress and behave to ensure they stay in character. This includes suggestions for clothing made from natural materials in bright, cheerful colours, avoiding modern patterns, logos, and materials.
While hobbits in JRR Tolkien's books often go barefoot, the festival acknowledges this may not be practical for human attendees. Simple leather flat shoes, unadorned slippers, or shorter boots are acceptable, but modern footwear is not allowed.
Beyond clothing, the festival encourages visitors to embrace the hobbit character, described as merry, rustic, good-natured, and fond of peace and quiet. Attendees are even encouraged to adopt an old-English style of speech.