100,000 revellers expected as St Giles' Fair opens

6:18pm Sunday 2nd September 2012 in News

Oxford City Council fair co-ordinator Mike Newman, pictured right with Joey Noyce of the Showman’s Guild Buy this photo » Oxford City Council fair co-ordinator Mike Newman, pictured right with Joey Noyce of the Showman’s Guild

IT is Oxford’s annual dose of bright lights and scary rides that marks the coming of autumn.

The St Giles’ Fair opens today at 10.30am, with organisers expecting to see 100,000 revellers flock to the historic street event over the next two days. It has been held since at least the 1600s.

While offering rollercoaster rides for thrillseekers, the fair is sticking to tradition with attractions like a carousel, dodgems and a coconut shy.

The city centre street is also hosting a large ferris wheel for the first time since the mid-1980s.

Oxford City Council fair co-ordinator Mike Newman said the annual event marked the end of summer.

He said: “It looks good when it’s dark and all the lights are shining.

“It wouldn’t be so spectacular if it took place in the middle of summer.”

As a result of the fair, Magdalen Street and St Giles’ will be closed until about 6.30pm on Wednesday. Buses will be diverted.

People attending St Giles’ fair have been warned to be wary of thieves and pickpockets by Thames Valley Police .

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Comments(6)

bart-on simpson says...
6:43pm Sun 2 Sep 12

Excellent.

OM - you mean the opening is 10.30am on Monday

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CowleyBoy says...
7:00pm Sun 2 Sep 12

I'm pretty sure I've been on the big wheel at the fair since the mid-80's...as late as the early 00's...so not sure that's right either

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charles daniels says...
9:18am Mon 3 Sep 12

Are any local papers offering ride coupons?

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carli says...
3:51pm Mon 3 Sep 12

St Giles Fair....oh god not again....more rubbish at extravagant prices...it may be an old custom, but isn't it time it died out. Everything is so over priced, crime rates rise. A complete rip off. I think it should be like the DODO extinct!

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profgeof2000 says...
11:40pm Tue 4 Sep 12

Carli

I think it should be held an extra day- modern rides are veyr complex and take longer to assemble and disassemble. And takes longer for people to go on all rides they want. Times change - so do rides!

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Kieronsbaker says...
12:22am Wed 5 Sep 12

I think you'll find it can't die out! As part of the age old lease of st Gilles to Oxford council, it ,it's be closed two days a year for a st fair. From, the covenant from Oxford uni

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