Countdown to Bridgwater funfair (From Bridgwater Mercury)
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Countdown to Bridgwater funfair
7:30am Monday 17th September 2012 in Bridgwater Area News By Kirsty James
Photo from a previous St. Matthews Field fair
THE LARGEST travelling Funfair in the South West is once again rolling into town.
Bridgwater’s St. Matthews Field will see a host of rides and stalls open next Wednesday (September 26) and run until Saturday, September 29.
The annual event, which dates back to the charter of King John, is now almost 800 years old. For the last 600 years it has been held on St Matthews Field, named because it was originally held according to a particular day in the Church calendar – the annual feast of Saint Matthew.
Sedgemoor District Council organises, lets out and sets out the street market in West Street, which includes over 100 stalls selling everything from bulbs to zoo prints. On the first day an extra market will be held at the top end of the field, with another 100 stalls. A small horse fair is also run on the first day.
Some 30 main rides at the funfair are organised by The Showman’s Guild. They include favourites like Froggit, Miami Trip, Top Spin and Orbiter, together with around 15 children’s rides and 50 hoopla and side stalls.
The Fair will be opened at 11.30am by Sedgemoor’s Chairman and the Mayor of Bridgwater. Opening and closing times are 11am to 11pm Wednesday, 1pm to 11pm on Thursday, 1pm to 11.30pm on Friday and 11am to 11pm on Saturday.
West Street and adjoining roads will be closed from 9am on Tuesday, September 25, and open on Sunday, September 30. Diversions will be signposted.
From Thursday the Rotary Club of Sedgemoor will be providing car parking on St Matthews Field. Additional public parking will be available at the YMCA, Friarn Avenue, and at Bridgwater Cricket Club, Durleigh Road. A Designated Public Places Order will be in place to tackle antisocial drinking. Alcohol can be confiscated.
Comments(10)
Wellyboy
says...
10:40am Mon 17 Sep 12
Miss Playboy
says...
10:57am Mon 17 Sep 12
fegmaniac
says...
12:23pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Miss Playboy wrote:Alas no :-( Still it gives the inbred locals a fun day out as they gaze in wonder at the piles of tat and the pretty lights........
Is it true at this year fair is the last one or not
artful280
says...
12:39pm Mon 17 Sep 12
bbunny_isl
says...
1:36pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Miss Playboy wrote:Yes. It is as true as all the other annual fair rumours such as:
Is it true at this year fair is the last one or not
- Free tester rides on Tuesday night
- Chaos only goes upside down on the last night
- SuperBob has been pimped up and now goes 150mph
Silverbirch
says...
4:25pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Miss Playboy wrote:Doubt it. However, Summerfield Developers have a planning application in for a road across the Fairfield and houses in the field next to it. How will that impact on fair, if planning is granted?
Is it true at this year fair is the last one or not
grisleyreg
says...
9:30am Thu 20 Sep 12
the voice of common sense
says...
6:55pm Thu 20 Sep 12
The fair takes thousands of pounds out of the local economy and all they do in return is their weekly shoplifting
Azza1989
says...
9:44am Fri 21 Sep 12
MBR Extreme says...
10:27am Mon 17 Sep 12