We looked back through previous pictures of the event to remember its history and the people involved over the years.
It has reportedly been held for more than 160 years in Allendale town centre and attracts hundreds of visitors to the town which is lit up with a fiery spectacle.
Allendale Tar Bar’ls 2017 (Image: NQ) READ MORE: Legendary flaming barrels event to welcome New Year
In the customary tradition, the group of ‘guisers’, 45 local men, carry whiskey barrels filled with burning hot tar through a procession, wearing fancy dress with their faces blackened by soot.
Past ‘characters’ have included Oompa Loompas and Donald Trumps, Storm Troopers, the cast of Dad’s Army and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Allendale Tar Bar’ls is held on New Year’s Eve (Image: NQ) In 2014, a Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired Paul Bowes carried a flaming barrel at the Allendale Tar Bar’l, while guisers William Stonehouse and Jonny Burns sported traditional costumes.
It occurs in all weather, regardless of wind, snow or rain.
Allendale Tar Bar’l sees guisers carry flaming barrels through the town (Image: NQ) It was cancelled due to Covid-19 for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021.
To become a guiser, men must have been born in the Valleys.
New Year’s Eve, 1973 (Image: NQ) The barrels are generally off-cuts and guisers usually wear hats to stop them from sliding. They are filled with sticks and wood shavings on a bed of sawdust, designed to prevent the dash of paraffin used to light them from leaking out.
At 11.30pm, the torches are lit and the barrels ignited.
The event has reportedly taken place for more than 160 years (Image: NQ) Each guiser lifts the flaming barrels on to the top of their heads and falls in behind the band.
At midnight, they arrive at the pre-built bonfire in the town centre.
Guisers in Pirates of the Caribbean dress (Image: NQ) The barrels are then used to ignite this ceremonial bonfire, while everyone shouts: “Be damned to he who throws last.”
Young and old come out to mark the New Year (Image: NQ) In 2010, chair of the festival John Lister, organiser Sylvia Milburn, and president Hilton Walker launched the official CD of the Allendale Tar Bar’l.
Local men carry whiskey barrels filled with burning hot tar (Image: NQ) They were joined by some of the guisers and singers who performed on the CD.