| Where: | Hereford in the Cathedral Close |
| When: | First Tuesday in May |
| Time: | 3.30 pm for Opening, Fair usually until 11 pm |
The historic May Fair at Hereford has been celebrated for over 900 years, and it begins with a distinctive opening ceremony featuring a large party of dignitaries. Originally a hiring fair and point of sale for livestock and goods, it’s now mainly a funfair with rides and stalls running from the Tuesday to Thursday following the May Day Bank Holiday. The unique custom that marks the start of proceedings is the official proclamation and opening ceremony in which the Mayor offers the Bishop twelve-and-a-half bushels of wheat; the wheat arrives nowadays on a trailer at which point the Mayor tells the history of the Fair and retells of ancient conflict between the civic party and the bishopric, which continued until in the nineteenth century the running of the fair was granted to the corporation. The wheat is paid to the bishop to compensation for the loss of rights over the fair and represents a wish for harmony between the parties, and a continuation of ancient practice.The civic party inspect the sacks of wheat and weigh one out into a bushel measure to show to the Bishop, who will bless the Fair, then the Mayor reads out the Proclamation. Representatives of the Showmen’s Guild also make speeches and the Bishop rings the Fair Bells to officially open the event, before the civic party tour the fair and maybe try a few of the rides and sideshows. The rides operate in the streets of the city centre for the next few days including the Thursday evening.
Helpful Hints
In 2024 it should be on Tuesday 7th May, with the fair running until Thursday 9th.
As well as the rides there are plenty of stalls and sideshows, and food & drink.
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialHerefordFair
Click here for the civic page for the event: https://herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/may-fair/
and here for more on the Proclamation: https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/23532/ceremonial-proclamation-of-the-historic-st-ethelbert-s-may-fair
