2025 Rockbourne Fair opens with 30% first time stall holders
The Fair hopes to raise tens of thousands of pounds for the Stars Appeal
Hundreds of people have visited Salisbury Racecourse on the opening day of this years Rockbourne Fair.
The early Christmas Fair helps generate vital funding for the Stars Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital's charity. Last year it raised a record-breaking £62,000, which will support ongoing and future projects across the hospital.
Sarah Ewen is part of the Rockbourne Fair committee, and says it's exciting to see the first people coming through the doors.
"We've been really looking forward to it," she said, adding: "It's a highlight of our year. There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, as you can imagine!"
Around a third of the over 100 stalls at the event this year are new to it, which Sarah told us is crucial to keep returning customers coming back.
"We get a lot of people coming back every year because they love the fair so much and we want to keep it fresh for them. So we go around the country and find the best stall holders selling fantastic products who we think would be appreciated here," she said.
Among those new to the event is Beatrice Betsy, owner of soy wax candle company, Bea's Botanicals.
She told us it's an event "everyone has raved about".
"I've done a few smaller shows in my local town, Ringwood," Beatrice said. "I thought this year, let's try something new, something bigger and dip my toes into new waters."
Beatrice added that the uniqueness of each stall made the event stand out, without it being an overwhelming experience and that the Fair benefits a local charity brings a community feel to it.
Also at the Rockbourne Fair for the first time is Amelda Astfalk with her Surrey-based company, Puzzly.
She told us the organisation, which creates wooden jigsaw puzzles with bespoke artwork, actively enjoys supporting local charities.
"Although we're based slightly further away, we also thought it would be a good idea for us to target a different audience and try something different," she said.
She told us that the variety of the fair made it "really exciting to be part of" and, given that the Fair supports the hospital, it ties in with how the company supports people with mental health.
The Fair is open until 3pm on Friday, with late-night shopping on Thursday keeping doors open until 7.30pm.