It is tradition for Abingdon people to walk the mile long street Fair, during the Sunday set up.

As usual, the Farr family stationed their Toffee Apples and Candy Floss stall near the top of West St Helen Street.

Mr Farr, aged 94, has only recently stopped working, but he still likes to come along to Abingdon Michaelmas Fair with his family. He first came to Abingdon with the Fair 94 years ago, when he slept as a baby, where his Father ran a throwing stall on the Market Place. He has been here with the Fair every year since – apart from the war years.

The Runaway Fair is orientated towards children who might not have liked the main fair the week before which can be very noisy.

The Runaway Fair was set up on Sunday morning on the Market Place, and along High Street.  As a result High Street traffic had to be sent down East St Helen Street and up West St Helen Street.

Everything is cleared away by mid evening on Monday.

My favorite sign at the Runaway Fair is “Don’t walk buy, give it a try”. I can’t decide whether it is bad spelling or clever advertising.

Abingdon Fair sometimes looks like Piccadily Circus. There are so many competing attractions.

There are so many signs.

One small stall had a fire evacuation procedure which was laminated and visible for all to see. So how many people read the small print, about health and safety,  before going on a ride?

Extreme “is not suitable for people with back or neck injuries, expectant mothers, the faint hearted or wimps…”

I see that the advise on Froggit includes the following “This is a fast moving boisterous ride, persons of a soft nature are advised to watch before riding…”

Power shot  also has a safety notice, but above all it seems that the ultimate danger is Chewing Gum.

Not everybody likes Abingdon Fair.

It causes problems for people living in roads nearby, and people having to get through town.

That is apart from our road, West St Helen Street, where for once in the year there is no traffic. East St Helen Street gets all the traffic for a change.

People say that it would be better off in a field out of town. I dare say but on a day like today – after all the rain – a field would be muddy.

There seemed to be a lot of policemen and security men about today. Some years there is trouble. Better safe than sorry.

There were fairly good crowds tonight, despite the rain. I think the pressure to down-size Abingdon Fair is more likely to come from the fair operator. They must need to make money to attract the big rides.

Abingdon Fair does after all happen about the same time as Nottingham Goose Fair.

Anyway,  for people who do suffer from the traffic or lack or parking, just one day more, then it will be gone again quicker than it came. My kids have grown up so for me there is less chance to go on rides, but I still enjoy the bright lights, the atmos fear, and the donuts.