Wellington to host it's annual Midsummer Fayre
Wellington will travel back in time this weekend during its annual Midsummer Fayre.
Saturday's fair will be the 10th anniversary of the event, which has origins in the 13th century.
The fayre is organised by volunteers from Wellington H2A and All Saints Church, with funding from Wellington Town Council, Wellington Market Company and Parry Carver Solicitors.
Visitors can look forward to over 40 food and craft stalls, a packed programme of music and Morris dancing, and the 1773 costumed procession.
Events will take place from 10am to 3pm.
June fair were taking place in Wellington at least as far back as the 13th century, when the town’s Market Charter of 1244 sanctioned a fair to take place on the Vigil, Feast and Morrow of St Barnabas between June 10 and 12.
An important commercial event in Wellington’s calendar, it is likely that street entertainers would have been there to make the most of the large crowds and long hours of daylight – just as they are today.
It is from these past fairs and jubilees that today’s revived Midsummer Fayre takes its inspiration, stirring together six centuries of festivities and folk culture from the 13th to the 19th centuries, when Wellington’s June fayres disappeared.
Full details are available at www.wellingtonsoup.org
