Thrill seekers were left disappointed when it was revealed St Giles Fair has been called off this year because of the coronavirus.
Oxford City Council and the organisers the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain thought the risk to public safety would be too great and are now planning the event for 2021.
The city council confirmed on Monday the fair will not go ahead this year as planned on Monday, September 7 and Tuesday, September 8.
READ AGAIN: St Giles Fair is called off to prevent the spread of coronavirus
With thousands of people attending, it would be impossible to guarantee safe social distancing.
The London & Home Counties Section of the Showmen’s Guild and Oxford City Council said in a joint statement: "It is with great regret that the London & Home Counties Section of the Showmen’s Guild, in conjunction with Oxford City Council, has to announce that, unfortunately, the St Giles Fair 2020 will not be able to go ahead this year and has subsequently been cancelled.
"With the UK still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially given that the fair attracts large crowds, it is felt that the risk to the public’s health and wellbeing is far too high for the event to go ahead.
"We are now looking forward to presenting the St Giles Fair in 2021 in the hope that it will be bigger and even better next year."
READ MORE: Latest coronavirus infection rate
The fair is held on the Monday and Tuesday following the first Sunday after St Giles' Day (September 1).The fair dates back to 1625 when it was a parish festival to celebrate the feast of the patron saint, St Giles.
In the 18th century it was a toy fair, then in the early 19th century it was a general children’s fair.
The funfair grew during mid and late Victorian times.
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