What is the Nottingham Goose Fair?
Nottingham Goose Fair could date as far back as a thousand years, but no one is sure of it’s exact origins. We know that there has been a seasonal fair in Nottingham since Saxon times, and the first mention of Goose Fair is all the way back in the 1500s!
Back in the earliest recorded Nottingham Goose Fairs, up to twenty thousand geese were marched to Nottingham from the surrounding areas to be sold in time for a day of feasting. The event is awash with history and tradition which is all part of the appeal, when you visit Nottingham Goose Fair you know you’re part of something that’s been going on since Saxon times!
Throughout the centuries, Nottingham Goose Fair has been attended by kings and nobility, and has grown larger and larger. In the 1700s, the fair was even the site of the infamous Nottingham Cheese Riot! Thankfully these days there’s more than enough food to go around, and there’s a lot more to be had than cheese!
The Modern Nottingham Goose Fair
Today, Nottingham Goose Fair is still going strong but rather than a flock of geese marching into town it’s thousands of human feet on the way to something very different. Nowadays, the main attraction is the funfair rides! Tradition is still strong and the fair is opened by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham ringing a pair of silver bells, and you can bet on an appearance by Goosey the official mascot.
Though the purpose of the fair may have changed over the centuries, it hasn’t stopped the excitement and attendance with up to 400,000 people in attendance annually over the duration. People come from far and wide to enjoy the carnival stalls, the food, the white knuckle rides and the atmosphere. It’s a place where memories are made and where funfair and fairground hire companies are proud to supply to such a prestigious event steeped in history.
Funfair Rides and Games
With fairground stalls, classic rides like carousels and Waltzers and new high octane rides, We Are Tricycle have been bringing fun like this to funfairs and fairgrounds for years and we can’t wait to help you throw your next one!
The funfair or carnival is a tremendous event and what better way to take it all in than from the top of a Ferris wheel, the perfect photo opportunity!
You can bet attendances will continue to soar at funfairs and fairgrounds in the UK, and We Are Tricycle will always be happy to attend to keep bringing the newest, most exciting attractions to them, Choose us for the biggest events on the funfair calendar!
You might be interested in some of the other historic funfairs and festivals that take place in the country. For instance, did you know about the history of the Mop Fair? These classic events take place in areas such as Gloucestershire and Warwickshire every year. Or why not read about the history of funfairs and fairgrounds?
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions!
Nottingham Goose Fair Connects Several Eras of Fairground History
Nottingham Goose Fair belongs to a much older fair tradition than the mechanical rides now associated with major funfairs. That makes it particularly useful for understanding how a historic event can continue while the entertainment operating within it changes repeatedly.
What Is the History of the Funfair? provides the wider background, while What Is the History of Charter Fairs? explores the historical framework behind another important strand of British fair culture.
The Fairground Did Not Always Mean Mechanical Rides
It is easy to view historic fairs through modern expectations, but large mechanical attractions belong to a later phase of their development. Trading, stalls and other forms of public activity existed before powered rides became such a prominent part of the fairground experience.
The history of the Carousel provides one route into the development of mechanical amusement, while the Chair-o-Planes follows another recognisable ride form.
New Attractions Can Become Fairground Traditions Surprisingly Quickly
Tradition does not necessarily mean keeping exactly the same equipment. A ride introduced during one period can become familiar to later generations and eventually be regarded as a standard feature of the British fairground.
What Is the History of the Dodgems? and What Is the History of the Waltzers? show how individual ride types developed identities of their own within the wider fairground.
Modern Thrill Rides Changed the Fairground Skyline
Later ride technology introduced different forms of height, speed, rotation and visual spectacle. At a major fair, these attractions can create a noticeably different skyline from the smaller rides and stalls associated with earlier periods.
thrill & white knuckle funfair rides and big funfair rides show the modern end of this development, while What Is the History of the Booster Fairground Ride? looks at the background of one prominent ride type.
Games Preserve a Different Side of Fairground Culture
Not every part of the fair developed through increasingly complex machinery. Traditional games continued to offer direct, short-form participation, helping preserve another recognisable element of fairground culture alongside changing ride technology.
fairground side stalls and games includes familiar formats such as hoopla, hook-a-duck and throwing games. What Is the History of Hoopla? looks more closely at how one such game fits into fairground history.
Nottingham Goose Fair Belongs to a Network of Historic Fairs
Britain's longstanding fairs should not be treated as interchangeable simply because they now contain similar types of entertainment. Their origins, local customs and subsequent development can differ considerably.
Compare Nottingham's tradition with What Is the History of Hull Fair?, What Is the History of the Tavistock Goose Fair? and What Is the History of the Pack Monday Fair? for several other routes through British fair history.
Follow the Rides and Traditions Beyond Nottingham Goose Fair
Funfair History FAQs answers broader questions about how fairs and their attractions developed, while our Guides cover individual rides, games, safety, planning and fairground traditions in greater detail.
For present-day events, all products brings together traditional rides, modern attractions, games and supporting equipment, or you can contact us to discuss suitable fairground entertainment.