Preparations are gathering pace for the return of The Hoppings to the Town Moor for the first time in three years.
The eagerly-awaited comeback of the famous travelling funfair - a Newcastle tradition for well over a century - will see high-octane rides and stalls back at the usual location from June 17-25 and its new organisers are out to make it a more popular draw than ever. The Hoppings, always a highlight of the summer, has been much missed since its last outing on the moor in 2019.
After 2020's visit was cancelled due to the pandemic, The Freeman of Newcastle and City Council announced in early 2021 that Crow Events - one of the country's biggest fairground and event operators - was to take over as The Hoppings' new management team who had big plans for its comeback. Their intention was to host the fair later in the year, for an August run, but then continuing Covid restrictions made this impossible too.
Read more: 10 rides The Hoppings wouldn't be the same without
Finally, plans are now full steam ahead for 2022. Following the announcement of its summer dates - a return its usual June slot - Crow Events has confirmed that preparations are well under way for the fair, which will feature new additions to its programme of exciting rides, such as the 200ft-high thrills of the Star Flyer and 80mph Mach Bomber, as well as fairground stalls and children's entertainment.
A spokesman said: "Whilst the event didn’t happen in 2020 due to the pandemic, we did attempt to deliver the event at a later date in 2021 but the challenges from the back lash of Covid proved too much and we were forced to postpone."
A new website for The Hoppings has been launched which will include extras such as interactive maps of the site as well as options enabling people to pre-book parking ahead of their trip to the fair. Crow Events has teamed up with media partners and the spokesman added that the aim is to "deliver one of the biggest line-ups with some exciting new additions which we will be announcing over the coming weeks, which will make The Hoppings The North East’s premier summer destination."
