The Waveney Harriers are ‘excited’ to be going ahead with their Boxing Day parade despite a campaign to bring an end to the tradition.
Bungay’s hunt parade has been a Boxing Day feature of the town for over 50 years, with thousands of people filling the streets to get a glimpse of the spectacle as it passes.
A statement from the Friends of the Waveney Harriers said: “We are really excited that plans for our traditional Boxing Day parade are going ahead despite attempts to have the event cancelled.
“The event is a big part of Christmas for many people.
“People like coming out to see the animals and it brings lots of joy to many."
But activists from the Action Against Animal Cruelty have said that the tradition is “unnecessary, detrimental to wildlife and inherently cruel.”
In November, the campaigners launched a petition which has now amassed over 41,000 signatures, at the time of writing.
A spokesperson from Action Against Animal Cruelty, who plan to meet at 11 am at the Buttercross, said: “There will be an organised peaceful protest going ahead on the day, in which we would like to warmly invite all opposed to the hunt to join us.
“We are pleased to see that the local authorities will be watching and attending the event to ensure the safety of the public.”
However, The Waveney Harriers see the tradition as an opportunity for businesses to ‘benefit from the footfall’ numbers it draws to Bungay.
They said: “The event brings lots of people to the town.
"We hope businesses will benefit from the footfall numbers, especially at the height of the cost-of-living crisis.
“We see people coming to the town as a really positive thing as it helps assert Bungay on the map."
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The Waveney Harriers will be collecting donations for Norfolk-based charity YANA.
The Harriers said: “We are delighted to be raising money for a local charity in YANA, a charity devoted to rural mental health support and wellbeing.
“Agricultural work can be lonely at times, the cause is close to the hearts of many people who are part of the Harriers.”
The group have predicted to be passing through Earsham Street in Bungay at around 11.15 am.
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