Downton's Cuckoo Fair to return in 2025 after cancellation this year
The event's the biggest in the village's annual calendar
After being cancelled for this year, Downton's historic Cuckoo Fair looks set to return in 2025.
It was scrapped last November in the face of escalating costs, increasingly complex regulations and requirement and ensuring there was enough volunteers.
But after working hard behind the scenes, a number of new committee members have been recruited and plans are being made to hold the Fair in 2025.
The event, which is the largest free event in Wiltshire, benefits local organisations such as scouts, local schools and businesses, providing them with much needed funds.
Suzanne Rawle, the committee's communications manager says it's great news.
"It will be a real boost to the local community, we've had really good feedback from the village downtown village itself," she said.
Mrs Rawle said people were shocked and disappointment at November's cancellation of the 2024 event and that it's a case of people not realising what they had until they lost it.
"People enjoyed the event immensely and didn't really appreciate the underlying work that is involved in actually the organisation and the planning.
"And of course, when it was announced that it couldn't take place this year, many people were very disappointed.
"I think it was a case that until it was cancelled people didn't realise what they had until it was gone," she said.
Mrs Rawle says the committee are looking at all options to ensure the Fair can go ahead.
They're assessing alternative dates or using different venues if the weather is adverse.