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About the Goose Fair
Culture & Art , Festivals & Fairs
United Kingdom & Ireland
Ends: Oct 11, 2023
DESCRIPTION:
The Tavistock Goose Fair is an annual festival held in the market town of Tavistock, located in Devon, England, dating back to the early 12th century. Tavistock is one of England's oldest towns (976 AD) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2006 for its stannary (tin mining) culture dating back to the Roman occupation. It is also the birthplace of jam with scones—a treat that pairs beautifully with another Tavistock original, Lady Bedford's contribution to English culture, the afternoon cream tea.
Tavistock's Goose Fair is the original English celebration following the Christian observance of Michaelmas (September 29), which began as a livestock market, particularly for geese. Geese were traditionally eaten at Michaelmas to guarantee prosperity in the coming year and given as part of the annual rent payment by farmers.
Although the sale of geese is no longer a significant aspect of the fair, the event remains an important tradition in Tavistock. It serves as a reminder of the town's agricultural heritage and is a popular event in the local calendar and a regional favorite epitomizing quintessential English history and culture. How popular? Consider Christopher Hitchens (April 13, 1949-December 15, 2011), a renowned British author, journalist, and intellectual who lived in the area. He cited the Tavistock Goose Fair in his last years as one of his most treasured memories of his youth. Even Sir Francis Drake, the town's most famous son, would have attended the Tavistock Goose Fair as a boy. Now that's history!
The fair has evolved over the years and is now a vibrant mix of a street market, carnival, and various entertainment events featuring merchants selling food, crafts, and miscellaneous goods, along with amusement rides, live music, and street entertainers. In recent years, the fair has expanded to include local and international cuisine, reflecting the diverse nature of the event. Tavistock's Goose Fair is held on the second Wednesday in October, attracting thousands of visitors from across the UK and beyond.
A sister event in the north part of England, The Nottingham Goose Fair, began about 100 years later in 1284 (when the fictional Robin Hood roamed Sherwood Forest). Both Goose Fairs are two of the longest-ongoing festivals in Europe.
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