Thousands of visitors from all over Europe have begun to arrive in Cumbria as the Appleby Horse Fair gets underway, prompting locals to close a school and close pubs.
The annual four-day event is expected to attract 30,000 visitors to the small town of Appleby-in-Westmorland and its neighboring Kirkby Stephen.
Around 10,000 will be gypsy, Roma, and traveller community members, with the 250-year-old fair billed as Europe’s largest traditional gathering of the community.
Travellers have begun to arrive in town, many of whom are bringing horses, ponies, and carriages to ‘the New Fair.’
Locals have responded by closing a school in the area, as well as closing pubs, in preparation for the fair, which begins today, June 9.
According to the fair’s organizers, at least 11 pubs in Appleby and Kirkby Stephen have confirmed they will not be open during the event.
Cumbria Police is urging motorists to drive cautiously in the area in the run-up to the fair, and has asked the public to report any concerns they may have.
Before the fair began, the force said it had made arrests for theft and drug driving, as well as being called to the scene of a crash in which a horse died and three people were injured.
The Appleby Horse Fair takes place every year at the beginning of June, with year’s edition being held a week later than planned after organisers delayed it to make way for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
It comes after the Covid pandemic impacted on the previous two years, with the fair being cancelled in 2020 and postponed in 2021.
Les Clark, Chair of the Appleby Horse Fair Multi-Agency Strategic Coordinating Group (MASCG) said: ‘All the agencies involved in responding to the fair were keen to reach a compromise that enabled both the settled communities of Appleby and the surrounding areas and the Gypsy and Traveller communities to arrange and enjoy both celebrations.
‘We’re grateful to the Gypsy and Traveller representatives in the Multi-Agency Strategic Coordinating Group for being flexible on moving the date of next year’s fair to accommodate the celebrations of the Queen’s Jubilee.
‘A delegation of representatives from the Gypsy and Traveller Community will gather in the Fair field on Wednesday, June 8th, as part of this mutually agreed compromise, to reinforce the Fair’s traditional dates.’
‘The MASCG will also engage with those communities that normally accommodate people travelling to the fair in the days before to ensure that the impact on their Jubilee celebrations is minimalised as well as reinforcing a strong, ‘Do not come early’ message to those wishing to attend the Fair.’
Billy Welch, a member of the Multi Agency Co-ordinating Group, and representative for gypsy and travellers, said: ‘In the spirit of compromise and mutual respect that led to the cancellation of the Fair in 2020 and its postponement in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m pleased that we have been able to reach agreement on the dates for next year’s fair.s’
This move will allow the established communities in and around Appleby to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee while keeping the Fair’s historic connection to the town as close to the traditional dates as feasible.’
‘It has also been agreed that, after the traditional dates for the Fair were disturbed for various reasons over the last three years, we will return to the traditional dates in 2023.’
Motorists in the region have been advised to be cautious since horses and carts will be on the roads.
A horse was killed earlier this week after colliding with a vehicle while carrying a carriage on the A66 on Monday morning, June 6.
While police dealt with the incident, which left three individuals on the carriage with minor injuries, the busy road, which is one of the main approaches into the neighborhood, was closed.
Cumbria Police said no arrests had been made as a result of the incident, and that the driver of the vehicle was unharmed.
‘At this time of year, we always urge drivers to be especially cautious on the county’s roads,’ said Chief Superintendent Matt Kennerley, Gold Commander for Appleby Horse Fair.
‘The chances of encountering slow-moving traffic are high, so we must all be alert while driving.’
‘I urge motorists to exercise caution on the A66, where fast-moving vehicles may collide with slow-moving, often horse-drawn, vehicles, and on the A685 near Kirkby Stephen, where caravans and horses can be found on the side of the road.’
We have increased our resourcing in these areas, despite the fact that we already have a large number of officers in place to reassure people and keep everyone safe.
‘By being aware of the risks, we can all help to ensure that everyone arrives at their destination safely and without incident.’
This year, police made changes to traffic regulations to allow for the opening and closing of local roads as needed.
The number of temporary toilets has also been increased, and the fair’s co-ordinating group will meet daily.
The fair has only been canceled twice in its 250-year history, once in 2001 due to the foot and mouth outbreak and again in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The event is billed as Europe’s largest traditional gypsy fair, and it has developed annual traditions.
Gypsy horses are washed in Appleby’s River Eden and paraded up and down the ‘flashing lane,’ a closed off rural road, before being haggled over and purchased.
On Jimmy Winter’s Field, there is a market with stalls selling everything from fashion to horse-related items.