| Where: | Banbury, Oxon - town centre, starting at the White Horse pub |
| When: | Weekend in early October (formerly 1st Sunday in July) |
| Time: | Now 11.30 onwards. (Formerly From 7pm on the Friday with Parade on Saturday 11 am) |
Every October the town of Banbury is overrun by an influx of unusual equines and their companions – the hobby horses have come to town! Now there is a Hobby Horse Dance Out organised by Adderbury Village Morris, whereas in the past there was a full Festival which was a relatively recent custom celebrating the ancient hobby horse of lore and legend; up to 20 horses and other beasts travelled from all over the country to take part but now it’s on a smaller scale. You can still expect plenty of morris dancing, capering and neighing with performances taking place all around town. The event used to be over a weekend in July, but then merged with Banbury Folk Festival in the autumn, which was a folk music festival featuring major well-known acts. The Hobby Horse Festival was then usually a one-day event taking place on the Saturday of the Folk weekend and it may well return in future in full.
Helpful Hints
The Hobby Horse Festival currently appears to have lapsed, but Adderbury Village Morris, who were stalwarts pf the Festival, now organise a smaller scale Hobby Horse Dance Out on the same weekend. In 2024 it was on Saturday October 5th- 2025 details are yet to be announced.
In 2022 the Folk Festival ran from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th October- the Parade of Beasts would normally have been on Saturday 8th but there was no official Horse event though some horses might be seen cavorting around at the folk festival. It was best to try to arrive for the Parade to the Bandstand, after which the individual horses were introduced to the crowd, as some of the beasts didn’t stay for the full day. When we visited, Adderbury Morris danced their socks off all day accompanied by their spotty horses Percy and Charlie.
Click here for Adderbury: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064617467206
Click here for the Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/banburyhobbyhorsefestival
and here for the Folk Festival :https://www.facebook.com/Banbury-Folk-Festival-230321870341379/
Good Morning.
My name is Sarah-Jane Gorham. I am Activitiy co-ordinator at the Ridings care home in Banbury. We offer assisted living for 48 elderly residents, some living with dementia.
We are really keen to take a stall at the 2012 canal day event as we need to raise funds for tripa and activities for our residents.
Please can you tell me how I go about this
Many Thanks
Sarah-Jane Gorham
Dear Sarah,
Calendar Customs isn’t directly involved in the organisation of any of the events featured in it, but if you follow this link : http://www.banburyfolkfestival.co.uk/
you should be able to find what you’re looking for. Good luck with the fundraising!
Kind Regards,
Averil
Hi
Just found out from Banbury Town council as I was planning to go on Saturday, This no longer occurs, haven’t had full details yet. They still have a Sunday procession, Mayor’s Sunday, leaving the town hall from 12.30 and the events in the park. There are Hobby Horses in this procession apparently. Shame it has gone if true!
Why is it so difficult to go to pages mentioned for hobby horse event this year – can’t be found etc. Extremely frustrating.
I think it’s because the Hobby Horse Festival is now being merged in with the Banbury Folk Festival held in the autumn – you can find their website at http://banburyfolkfestival.co.uk . I haven’t added it to calendarcustoms yet until I see if it’s going to be a long term association, as I’ve had to alter the Hobby Horse Festival page so many times with all the changes to it in recent years, and I don’t think it was on at all last year. Maybe if it’s linked to the folk festival it’ll be a bit more stable (pun intended!)
Best wishes,
Averil