ALL the fun of the fair is set to come to Stratford.
The Charity Mop will be taking place on Tuesday, October 11 from 4pm to 11pm, with the Main Mop running the following day from 11am to midnight.
The Mop, which will opened by Stratford District Council chairman Coun Sue Adams, has a long and historic tradition, with the original charter being granted by Edward VI in 1544.
Its origins lie in hiring agricultural and domestic labour set out some time during the reign of Edward III and provision of the statutes of labourers.
The date is set for October 12 – or is moved if that date falls on a Sunday – and it remains a key date in the Warwickshire calendar.
In the 1950s, during the prominence of railway travel, a plethora of special trains were laid on to ferry the local population to and from the fair.
This year’s fair will feature everything from state-of-the-art to vintage fairground rides, together with tasty treats from hog roasts to candy floss.
The 125 year old Golden Carousel is also making a return to Stratford for the third year.
And the Runaway Mop will be held in the town centre the following week on October 20 and 21.
This tradition derived from the need for employers to reconsider and re-hire any staff before committing to a full year’s work.
To accommodate the event, the following streets will be closed from 5am on Tuesday, October 11 until 6am on Thursday, October 13:
– Greenhill Street, Rother Street (from Ely Street), Wood Street, Union Street, Bridge Street, Windsor Street (from Mansell Street), Meer Street, Henley Street, and High Street.
The Runaway Mop will see the following streets closed from 5am on Thursday, October 20 until 6am on Saturday, October 22:
– Greenhill Street, Rother Street (from Ely Street), Wood Street, Windsor Street (from Mansell Street), and Meer Street.
Road closures will be strictly enforced by Stratford District Council during both events.
