IT was a fifth time win for Alice Knight (23), of Bristol, at the Dartmoor Folk Festival on Saturday, August 8.

The 2026 Adult Dartmoor Step Dance winner Alice Knight have a demonstration, video Alan Quick

Albert Hansell taking part in the Dartmoor Step Dance competition. AQ 1936
Albert Hansell taking part in the Dartmoor Step Dance competition. AQ 1936 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)
Performers Jill and Bernard Blackwell, right, officially opened the Dartmoor Folk Festival, pictured with, from left, Mark Bazeley, Shirley Bazeley and Jason Rice. AQ 1883
Performers Jill and Bernard Blackwell, right, officially opened the Dartmoor Folk Festival, pictured with, from left, Mark Bazeley, Shirley Bazeley and Jason Rice. AQ 1883 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Alice won the highly contested Adult Dartmoor Step Dance final after beating 10 others in the heats.

Hundreds of people watched the nail-biting final held at South Zeal.

The amazing Lily Lakeman singing on the arena stage at Dartmoor Folk Festival, video Alan Quick

Lily Lakeman, Devon singer-songwriter, broke onto the folk music scene this year, pictured on the Dartmoor Folk Festival main stage. AQ 1961
Lily Lakeman, Devon singer-songwriter, broke onto the folk music scene this year, pictured on the Dartmoor Folk Festival main stage. AQ 1961 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)
Cogs and Wheels from South Zeal performed in the main ring. AQ 1897
Cogs and Wheels from South Zeal performed in the main ring. AQ 1897 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Alice previously won the title in 2024, 2022 and 2019 and the Junior title in 2019.

She said she has attended the Festival “since she was born”.

Dartmoor Step Dance finalists 2026, video Alan Quick

Dartmoor Broom Dance winner was Stanley Brinkworth (11). AQ 8094
Dartmoor Broom Dance winner was Stanley Brinkworth (11). AQ 8094 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)
The Dartmoor Pixie Band played for a ceilidh and the finale at the festival. AQ 7796
The Dartmoor Pixie Band played for a ceilidh and the finale at the festival. AQ 7796 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Junior Dartmoor Step Dance winner was George Twitchin (16) of Farnham, Surrey, who said he had attended the Festival "all my life”.

Dartmoor Step Dancing involves dancing on a 15-inch square board on top of an old hay wagon.

Bampton Morris at Dartmoor Folk Festival, video Alan Quick

Junior Dartmoor Step Dance winner was George Twitchin (16), pictured with the President and runners-up. AQ 8122
Junior Dartmoor Step Dance winner was George Twitchin (16), pictured with the President and runners-up. AQ 8122 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Dartmoor Step Dancing on the wagon while the judges watched. AQ 1940
Dartmoor Step Dancing on the wagon while the judges watched. AQ 1940 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Dartmoor Broom Dance winner was Stanley Brinkworth (11), from London. He was third in the competition last year.

The Festival was opened by Jill and Bernard Blackwell, performers who first attended the Festival in 1981.

The weekend included lively ceilidhs, workshops, dance displays, children's activities, craft stalls, music sessions and free daytime entertainment.

There was a standing ovation for Arthur Coates and Kerran Cotterell at the festival, video Alan Quick

Tinners Morris from South Zeal during one of their performances. AQ 2008
Tinners Morris from South Zeal during one of their performances. AQ 2008 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

The Phil Beer Trio performing for a concert. AQ 7918
The Phil Beer Trio performing for a concert. AQ 7918 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

There was an outstanding line-up of guest performers alongside local musicians, dancers and storytellers.

There were standing ovations and dancing in the aisles at the finale concert at South Zeal’s Victory Hall on Sunday, August 9.

Afterwards Festival Secretary Jane White said: “Well that’s the end of another brilliant Dartmoor Folk Festival.

The Dartmoor Pixie Band played the finale with The Bismarcks and Phil Beer, video Alan Quick

Competitors in the Dartmoor Broom Dance competition. AQ 1905
Competitors in the Dartmoor Broom Dance competition. AQ 1905 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)
Some of the members of Otter Morris before they danced in the main arena. AQ 2005
Some of the members of Otter Morris before they danced in the main arena. AQ 2005 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Jamie Wheeler played the music for the last time for Bampton Morris, after 48 years, at the Dartmoor Folk Festival. AQ 1993
Jamie Wheeler played the music for the last time for Bampton Morris, after 48 years, at the Dartmoor Folk Festival. AQ 1993 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

“It goes far too quickly. Next year will be our 50th year.

“I wonder what Bob Cann, my grandad, the founder of the festival, would think of it today.

A Cogs and Wheels Morris Dancer in action. AQ 1889
A Cogs and Wheels Morris Dancer in action. AQ 1889 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)
Judges watching the Dartmoor Step Dance competitors. AQ 1921
Judges watching the Dartmoor Step Dance competitors. AQ 1921 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)
Rocking Horse Money on the wagon at the Dartmoor Folk Festival. AQ 2021
Rocking Horse Money on the wagon at the Dartmoor Folk Festival. AQ 2021 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

“Gramps was only around for the first 13 festivals before he passed away in 1990.

“His legacy lives on in preserving the song, music and dance of his dear ol’ Dartmoor. I think about him and Nan everyday.

During one of the ceilidhs. AQ 7880
During one of the ceilidhs. AQ 7880 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)
Otter Morris get ready to dance. AQ 8355
Otter Morris get ready to dance. AQ 8355 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)
Arthur Coates and Kerran Cotterell went down a storm at the festival. AQ 8437
Arthur Coates and Kerran Cotterell went down a storm at the festival. AQ 8437 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

“They were certainly looking down on us this year.

“Here’s to next year’s festival on August 6, 7 and 8.”