Downton set for this year’s Cuckoo Fair
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Downton’s biggest event of the year, the Cuckoo Fair, is set for its 42nd fair today (Saturday 29th April).
The arrival of the cuckoo was traditionally seen as the onset of good weather, with the ‘opening of the gate’ to let the cuckoo pass is believed to be the fair’s basis.
The event allows local organisations to raise money for themselves, as well as creating a strong community spirit.
The Fair’s communications manager Joanna Ramsay Horbury told us what is on offer this year, she said:
“We’ve got 252 separate stall holders this year, 62 of those are new people.
"As ever, we've got lots of bands, we have a lot of entertainment for the children in the Memorial Gardens, including a juggler, a storyteller and lots of fairground rides. And there's always lots of fabulous food to eat.”
The fair is a non-profit event, with any profits made being reinvested into local causes and Joanna explained what the extra money had been used for in the past:
“If there is any money that, as a cuckoo fair, we have as profit, we put that back into the village.
“For example, we've bought a defibrillator. In the past, we've paid for the beautiful gates into the Memorial Gardens, which I've got some lovely cuckoos on them. So, it really is a community being together in the village.”
We also spoke to Tony Pike, chairman of the Cuckoo Fair, who recommended the Maypole Dancers as a must-see part of the day.
"We've got a maypole there, which is 28 foot high, and the girls are absolutely marvellous. We also have choirs there. The Junior School choir comes out and sing. It all comes from the school dancing, and they put a superb show on. "
The Cuckoo Fair has been running since 1979, although there was a gap recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the 44 years it has been running, the fair has passed the mark £1 million raised for local charities in the area.