The Monday of the Michaelmas Fair brought sunshine and blue skies — not the usual Abingdon Fair weather. Most of the big rides can be seen in the video above.

The fair is a huge event, filling the streets of Abingdon with rides such as the 40-metre-high Booster (above).

As the sun set, an orange glow spread over the town, and the fair grew even more spectacular — bright lights flashing, music and megaphone calls echoing, and crowds of excited visitors, especially the younger ones.

Much of the town centre closes to traffic for the fair, including Ock Street and the High Street from the Market Place. Its origins go back to the years following the Black Death of 1348–49, when justices of the peace set wage rates for the coming year at Michaelmas. Hiring agreements were made at the same time, giving rise to the Michaelmas hiring fair — a tradition that lasted into the early 1900s. Over time it evolved into the fun fair we enjoy today.

More pictures to follow on Tuesday when the moon will be full. It looked full on Monnday.

The set-up for the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair was well underway earlier than in previous years.

This is only the second year the fair has been opened on a Sunday. Traditionally, only the Fair Service and the Mayor’s official opening took place that day.

Last year’s Sunday opening was hampered by rain, but this year was different. Under blue skies, several food stalls and children’s rides were already open by midday, and by the time of the fair service at 3:30 pm, most of the fairground, apart from the Market Place, was alive.

The Fair Service, on the Market Place, was introduced by the Mayor, Councillor Rawda Jehanli, and led by her chaplain, Rev’d Georgina Bondzi-Simpson. Music was by Abingdon Community Orchestra. It included three well-known hymns, Christian prayers (one of them a Psalm, also part of the Jewish tradition), a Muslim prayer, and a piece of Self-Improvement Philosophy.

A good crowd gathered for the service. It ended with a blessing after which the Mayor officially opened the Fair. The Mayor, her cadet, and other attendees were afterwards treated to a free ride on the golden gallopers.

By then, all the fairground rides and sideshows were operating , and the Market Place, High Street, and Ock Street were filled with people enjoying what the fair operator, Bob Wilson’s Fun Fairs, billed as ‘Super Sunday Funday’.

Some of Abingdon’s restaurants, such as  Chaba Thai ,also joined in the fair, serving food from their outside pavement.