Are you ready? All the fun of the fair is back in Barnstaple this week!

The annual four-day Barnstaple Fair starts today (Wednesday) and was launched in historic style this morning.

The fair, which has been running for around a thousand years in England’s oldest borough, was launched with a proclamation at the Opening Ceremony for dignitaries and invited guests in the town's Guildhall.

As part of this, a large white gloved hand, adorned with ribbons and flowers appeared from an upper window at the Guildhall, a symbol of a friendly welcome, as it has done for centuries. Indeed, the opening ceremony itself has been held at the Guildhall for nearly 200 years.

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As well as kicking off all the fun of the fair for visitors to the new location for this year at Seven Brethren car park (next to Tarka Leisure Centre), running from Wednesday afternoon until Saturday night, it also means the town is gearing up for Barnstaple Carnival on Saturday too – more details below!

Above and below: Ride the carousel or the more adventurous can enjoy a wide range of white-knuckle rides at Barnstaple Fair this week! Credit: Phil Sobey 

The fair opening ceremony was followed by a procession through Barnstaple town centre, including along Cross Street, past the office of the North Devon Gazette and North Devon Today. A lunch for dignitaries and VIPs followed the parade.

On Saturday between 3.30 and 4pm, the cast of Grease from Barnstaple Musical Comedy & Dramatic Society, will be wandering the fair and will be open to photo opportunities. Just a reminder to make sure that you take your vouchers that were in the North Devon Gazette, to receive 50p off per ride (T&Cs apply).

Above: Don’t miss all the lights, bustle and noise of Barnstaple Fair at its new location on Seven Brethren car park. Credit: Photobomb

Of course it isn’t Barnstaple Fair Week without rounding it off with the annual Barnstaple Carnival, now firmly re-established after the Covid disruption and ready to roll on Saturday.

The procession sets off at 6pm, but before that from 12noon, the Buzz Zone on Castle Green will be packed with plenty to see and do, including a Lilo & Stitch photocall, singer Tamson Ball, the Bubble Show and Scuttlebutt Sea Shanty Choir plus bouncy castles, stalls, face painting and much more.

Above: Barnstaple Carnival event times and route

The mosaic on The Strand will also be bustling with entertainment, from local performers between noon and with headliners Soul Endeavour playing from 6.30pm.

The Voice Stage at the Square will get the party started from 2pm, with plenty to engage the crowds until the crowning of not one, but two Carnival Queens, 14-year old Gracie Roper and 12-year Mollie-Rose Browning, at 5pm.

The parade itself will assemble along the old bridge and Taw Vale from 2pm onwards, with judging at 4.30pm and the procession moving off at 6pm to make its way through the town centre.

Finally, at around 8pm a spectacular firework display will bring the organised festivities to a close – but there is still time to pop to the fair!