St Giles' Fair (also St Giles Fair) is an annual fair held in St Giles', a wide thoroughfare in central north Oxford, England. It is unusual for an English fair, being held in a major street of a city and blocking traffic for its two-day duration in September each year. The fair is organised by the Oxford City Council with the London and Home Counties section of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain.
The street is closed to traffic for two days each September for this traditional fair. Formerly, the University Parks were also closed at the same time to demonstrate that they are owned by the University of Oxford rather than formally being public. The fair also extends into Magdalen Street to the south and Banbury Road and Woodstock Road to the north.
Since the 19th century, St Giles' Fair has been held on the Monday and Tuesday following the first Sunday after St Giles' Day (1 September). This means that when 1 September is a Saturday, the fair is held at the earliest possible time (3 & 4 September); but when 1 September is a Sunday, the fair is held at the latest possible time (9 & 10 September).
In 2011, the Fair was held on 5 and 6 September.
Read more about St Giles' Fair: History
Famous quotes containing the word fair:
“Talleyrand said that two things are essential in life: to give good dinners and to keep on fair terms with women. As the years pass and fires cool, it can become unimportant to stay always on fair terms either with women or one’s fellows, but a wide and sensitive appreciation of fine flavours can still abide with us, to warm our hearts.”
—M.F.K. Fisher (b. 1908)