Revellers enjoy all the fun of the fair

4:30pm Thursday 9th October 2008

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THE Evesham Mop Fair was back in town at the weekend in one of the biggest carnival extravaganzas the area has to offer.

The High Street was awash with colour as rides of all shapes and sizes were squeezed in among the 17th century buildings and residents were able to take their time and explore the new surroundings which had sprung up overnight.

Mayor of Evesham Alan Booth officially opened the fair on Thursday night.

He said: “I thought it was very good and I had a go on a few of the rides myself. I always do.”

The Mop Fair has been visiting Evesham for over 400 years, and was included in the town’s first charter set up in 1605.

It is called the Mop Fair because it was originally a trade fair where potential employees could meet employers to fulfill the area’s demand for labour. It was a tradition for the employee to carry around something that signified their trade or skill, while those without marketable skills would carry a mop.

However these days it is a chance for people to enjoy the carnival spirit and, if they’re brave enough, take a turn on one of the many dazzling and exciting rides it has to offer.