The Abingdon Traditional Craft Fair was held from Friday to Sunday at the picturesque medieval Abbey Buildings in Abingdon. The fair featured 68 stalls showcasing a wide array of handcrafted items by skilled artisans. The stalls were spread across the Abbey Buildings. There was a small area for refreshments, but food stalls no longer feature at the Fair.

The event was organised by the Abingdon Partnership group, which also manages the local excellence markets and the annual extravaganza. This year, the organisers introduced a new initiative to encourage advanced online bookings to better manage the flow of visitors.

From the ceramics of Emma Baldwin, who used to teach at Abingdon College, to marquetry pieces by Gabriella Blakey and wooden block prints by Art of Jaipur.

The fair provided an opportunity to talk with local artists and appreciate their work. There were more jewellery stalls than any other single artform, but lots of artwork, textiles, ceramics, candles, glasswork, photography, woodturning etc.. There were also demonstrations of pottery and weaving in the crypt.

Proceeds from the event’s entrance fees and stall rentals contribute to the upkeep of the medieval Abbey Buildings. The fair has done that since the 1970s and has been managed by different people and organisations over the years. The current organisers put a premium on craftworkers who are small producers with original quality designs.

During the fair, we had the rare sight of West St Helen Street with no parked or moving cars. While East St Helen Street was far busier than usual. But things were back to normal today now the fair has gone.

The scarecrow that was perched on top of the postbox during most of the fair was gone this evening.

Hopefully, somebody has second thoughts and returns him.

I am reminded that the runaway fair will be here next weekend.

Another night at the fair.

The weather has been good for both days of the fair. Some people came back for a second night.

I did a video tour of the bigger rides.

The late afternoon sun brightened the route of the fair along Ock Street and High Street to the Market Place.

Crowds streamed in both directions

and the sun went down, and darkness came, and the children’s rides slowed.

The bright lights of the bigger fair rides and their pulsing music then vied for people’s attention.

Personally, I prefer to watch and take pictures, which is almost as thrilling as going on the rides.

Low scores are better in some places in the fair where scoring under 40 with four darts can win a prize. Under 12 wins a big prize.

Cuddly octopus prizes seemed to be a favourite on several stalls. On this one you need to score over 30 for a big octopus but every player gets an octopus.

Bob Marley reggae music pulsed from a shop at the top of West St Helen Street, its yellow, green, and black balloons celebrating Jamaica. A new caterer, advertising and serving Afro-Caribbean cuisine, will open there and are there for the fair.

And for those who had not overindulged in chorizos, candy floss, freshly cooked doughnuts, or overly bumpy or upside-down rides, there were also curries, fish and chips, German sausages, and foods from all around the world at the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair.