One of the most anticipated events of the whole year for Hull people is heading our way very soon.
Now schools are back, the excitement is surely building towards the return of Hull Fair. In 2023, it was 135 years since the travelling Hull Fair first made its stop in Walton Street but with a history in the city stretching as far back as 1279, a fair has been part and parcel of the fabric of Hull for centuries.
Over time, the attractions have changed, of course. Some of the earliest fairs would have offered wide-eyed visitors the chance to see wild animals and illusionists, puppet theatre and jugglers, for example.
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In the 21st century, it is state-of-the-art rides that thrill-seekers are looking for, alongside a host of food vendors and sideshows to entertain all the family. No doubt in 2024, fairgoers will find their share of favourite rides and some brand-new arrivals to keep the adrenaline flowing.
In keeping with tradition, Hull Fair's eight-day run will again incorporate the date October 11, a hark-back to 1751 when a calendar change led locals to believe the "loss" of 11 days affected their fair. In another time-honoured nod, the fair will not be open on the Sunday its visit covers.
Hailed as the oldest fair of its kind and one of the largest travelling fairs in Europe, Hull Fair boasts over 250 rides and an array of complementary attractions. Fairgoers from all over Hull, East Yorkshire and beyond will be rolling up in their thousands as the bright lights, fast rides and fairground food draw them in this October.
When is Hull Fair?
Brought to the city by the Showmen’s Guild, in collaboration with Hull City Council, Hull Fair 2024 is set to return from Friday, October 4 until Saturday, October 12. Following tradition, on the middle Sunday of its run, October 6, the fair will remain closed.
What time does it open?
Tradition dictates that the official opening takes place on the first Friday at 5pm. The opening is preceded by a short parade involving the Lord Mayor, so this year it will be the turn of Councillor Mark Collinson to attend the opening and help perform the bell-ringing that signals the start.
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Last year's official opening ceremony involved the Hull Fair Chaplain and the chairman of the Yorkshire section of the Showmen’s Guild. The fair will then remain open until 11pm that night, as per each night of the fair’s duration.
The opening times are noon on the two Saturdays of the fair run and 2pm on all other days.
What rides will be there?
Ride owners and operators are always keen to bring the very latest attractions to Hull and sometimes choose Hull to debut a brand new ride. There are rides to suit adrenaline seekers, as well as the gentler, fun options to amuse younger fairgoers.
For thrill-seekers, new rides for 2023 included a drop and twist tower, and newly-manufactured extreme ride Air Raid, plus the UK's tallest bungee. The age-old favourites are always there to please, too, with waltzers, hook-a-duck and fun houses.
Food and drink offers included bubble tea, loaded hot chocs, footlong fries, and whoopie pies. Who knows what new taste trends people will be indulging in this year?
What will rides cost this year?
The individual operators can choose what prices to charge their customers - some rides are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and will therefore be more expensive to ride. Last year, the chairman of the Yorkshire Showmen’s Guild Michael Cowie said big hikes in prices were not on the cards as "there is a limit to what we can all charge before you get to the point when people simply can’t afford it".
Can you enjoy Hull Fair for free?
For some people, a stroll around the fair to take in the atmosphere, the sights, the sounds and the smells, is all it needs to enjoy a Hull Fair hit, and you can soak up plenty of that across the 16-acre spread of the fair over Walton Street. Of course, it might just cost you a patty and chips to walk around with when the aromas prove too tempting.
What roads will be closed and when?
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Areas around Walton Street are usually affected from the middle of the week preceding the opening, with the arrival and setting up of the rides and stalls by the showmen. The customary closure of Walton Street for the duration of the fair begins on the Wednesday morning preceding; it is usual for it to reopen on the Sunday afternoon following the fair's final Saturday night.
Other temporary closures take place in streets around. In some areas, residents will be required to display parking permits to gain access; elsewhere people will be encouraged to use park and ride facilities to help ease congestion.
How to get to Hull Fair
Areas around Walton Street have resident-only parking zones. Any spare spaces tend to fill up quickly during fair season.
Drivers are advised instead to use the Hull Park and Ride service that Stagecoach provides. Special Hull Fair buses are also laid on, serving key routes around Hull and making it easier for families to travel in.
The postcode for the Priory Park park and ride is HU4 7DY. In previous years, buses have dropped off passengers just before the Anlaby Road entrance to Walton Street, departing from the layby just after the entrance, near to West Park.
Also in previous years, there has been limited paid parking in West Park. When arriving on foot, people should be aware that there are a number of different entry points to the fairground, not just the Spring Bank West and Anlaby Road ends of Walton Street.