Tewkesbury Mop Fair 2007

9 to 10 October – Find out what the Tewkesbury Mop Fair is about, where it got its strange name from and what’s in store during the two-day street party.

Although Tewkesbury’s two-day Mop Festival is named after the humble domestic utensil, this is not, as you might have thought, a curious celebration of cleanliness that Kim and Aggy could be proud of. Instead the historic fair provides the setting for a fun-evening out for families from across Gloucestershire.

Dating back to 12th century, according to the Tewkesbury Fair Society the Mop Fair’s name came about because farm workers, labourers, servants and craftsmen would take along an item to represent their trade to the fair. When the workers had no specific skills they would carry a mop head to signify that they were for free for employment in the hope an employer would spot them in the crowds and give them a job – quite unlike today’s recruitment fairs, but an efficient way to find employment nonetheless.

While the modern-day organisers of Tewkesbury Mop Fair won’t be promising career advancements, the celebratory feeling of the street party has remained consistent to this very day. The 2007 festival will see Tewkesbury’s Nelson Street packed with visitors on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 October, from 6pm, with fun fair rides, traditional games and stalls serving tempting snacks all open for business.

Bringing along a mop is strictly optional, but may help with the street cleaning afterwards!

Event: Tewkesbury Mop Fair 2007
Venue: Nelson Street, Tewkesbury
Dates: Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 October 2007
Times: From 6pm onwards
Tickets: For more information phone Tewksbury Tourist Information on (01684) 295027

SoGlos.com
26 September 2007