Banbury Folk & Hobby Horse Festival

Where: Formerly Banbury, Oxon - town centre
When: Formerly Second weekend in October (formerly 1st Sunday in July)
Time: Formerly From 7pm on the Friday with Parade on Saturday 11 am -for full breakdown of times see Folk Festival links

 

Every October the town of Banbury was overrun by an influx of unusual equines and their companions – the hobby horses had come to town! This 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. You could expect plenty of morris dancing, capering and neighing. Performances took place all around town with a Parade on the Saturday, and there were stalls and further entertainments. 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 sadly now seems to have ceased altogether.

Helpful Hints

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. Despite making inquiries I have found no evidence that either Folk or Hobby Horse Festivals are happening in future, though stalwarts Adderbury Village Morris often perform in the town centre from 11.

If there are no plans visible for 2024 I’ll conclude that the Hobby Horse Festival has lapsed again- if anyone hears any news please let me know.

Try to arrive for the Parade to the Bandstand, after which the individual horses are introduced to the crowd, as some of the beasts don’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 the Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/banburyhobbyhorsefestival

and here for the Folk Festival :https://www.facebook.com/Banbury-Folk-Festival-230321870341379/

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