Ilkeston Charter Fair got under way on Wednesday, October 19, and residents came out in their thousands to roam the transformed streets surrounding the Market Place. Now in its 770th year, the fair still holds the same excitement and allure it always has, with visitors and stall owners weighing in on what makes this particular event so special.
Just 20 minutes after the fair's unofficial opening at 6pm on Wednesday, the streets of Ilkeston were already lined with people eager to get their first taste of what was on offer. With more than 40 rides to enjoy and a plethora of stalls to explore, it's difficult to see why the fair wouldn't be a must-visit for those in the surrounding areas, reports DerbyshireLive.
But stallholders and locals all agree that it's the community atmosphere that makes the four-day extravaganza so special. "We love the people and we love the atmosphere. All the stall owners say the Derbyshire people are spot on," says Michelle Walker, who runs the Sweet Things stall in Bath Street with her 18-year-old daughter Ava.
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"I love it here. I was actually brought up in this area and it's where I did most of my schooling so I really look forward to coming here. I'm 59 now and I've been doing this for that long. My mum and dad were showmen so I'm the second generation - Ilkeston Fair feels like coming home," she adds.
The stall, which sells doughnuts, Belgian waffles and pancakes, is just a short stroll down from the Food-to-Fill stall that's serving customers fair classics like burgers and mushy peas. It's run by Sammy Jones and Samantha Jones.
Samantha says: "We're really happy to be back. I've been coming here since I was a child, it's special but I don't even know why really. It's a small fair so people get a better experience.
"Even the permanent shops on the street get involved, we just feel so welcomed by the community, it's a town that really welcomes the fair.
"People who live here even come and watch us set up and have a wander and see what rides they want to try out." Bath Street is also home to one of the few hook-a-duck stalls at this year's fair.
Jenni Hendren, another stall worker, says she also feels the community spirit when she comes to Ilkeston. "It's been quite busy today, and it's nice to see everyone smile," she says.
"It's so nice for the kids to enjoy themselves. This is my first Ilkeston Fair, but I was also at Goose Fair earlier this month.
"I think it's a better atmosphere than Goose Fair - it's more of a community here. The people seem to know each other, it's just a good local street fair where everyone knows where they're going on the roads and where everything is."
The fair first came to the small town in 1252, making it older than Nottingham's Goose Fair. It's one of the most classic examples of a sprawling street fair that transforms the town into something almost unrecognisable.
Some of the rides on offer at this year's fair include the Helter Skelter, the Waltzer, the Big Wheel and Atmosphere. A new addition for the 770th event is the Sea Storm, of which there are only two in the UK.
Family-friendly rides include the Fun House, where we spoke to Ilkeston natives Amy Barfield and Carli Pearson. Amy, a 37-year-old dental nurse says: "It's just amazing, just a great atmosphere here.
"We live in Ilkeston so we've been to every fair, we would always come when we were little, and even coming now just brings back nice memories."
Others who attend also believe the fair has sustained itself as a special tradition for the town and its people. Lucy Morris, a 54-year-old pharmacist from Ilkeston who was with her family, said: "It's lovely. It's been going for so long now, someone told me it's one of the oldest and largest street fairs in Europe which is just amazing, and it's great to see so many people here. We've just been on the big horses."
Ilkeston Fair had its official ceremonial opening at 11am today (October 20), attended by the Mayor of Erewash and other distinguished guests. It has remained in its traditional setting and is situated in Bath Street, Market Place, East Street, South Street, Queen Street, Wharncliffe Road and Pimlico.
Attractions are open from 12noon until 11pm on Thursday (October 20), Friday (October 21) and Saturday (October 22). There are also currently a number of road closures in place.
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