Heart-stopping rides, sideshows, food stalls and ancient ceremonies are all part of the street extravaganza that is Hereford's May Fair.
The streets come alive during the three-day festival each year as thousands flock into the city centre, some from other counties, to enjoy the festival atmosphere and myriad of entertainment.
Up to 200 showmen and women from around the country will make
their way to Hereford to prepare for the May 6, grand
opening.
Charles Deakin-Stevens, Chairman of the South Wales and Northern
Ireland Section of The Showman's Guild, said: "Hereford's annual
May Fair will arrive on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5, and start
setting up at 6pm.
"A warm welcome awaits all to join us at this historic and impressive traditional fair. Showmen from all over the UK will give thrills, fun and laughter. With side stalls, children's rides, hoopla, white knuckle rides; tradition, we have it all.
The official opening of the May Fair is at 3.45pm on the Tuesday, May 6, on the Cathedral Close. A ceremonial offering of 12-and-a-half bushels of wheat is made by the Mayor to the Lord Bishop as payment for allowing the fair to proceed.
Herefordshire Council urges drivers to be patient and considerate on the roads during the week of the fair. And to ensure the smooth running of the festival, some of the city streets will be closed from Monday, May 5, until the early hours of Friday, May 9.
Roads to be closed to traffic will be: Commercial Street, High Town, St. Peters Street, St. Owen Street, Broad Street (below junction of West Street and East Street), King Street and Bridge Street. Some parking/loading/unloading areas will also be closed in Union Street and in the streets mentioned above.
All of these streets will be accessible to emergency vehicles.
Advance warning signs will be on all routes leading towards the city centre advising of the closures.
As in previous years, diversion routes will not be signposted as, with so many possible permutations, such signing would be too confusing for motorists.
All of the other city centre roads will operate as near normal as possible.
Meanwhile, the southern end of Berrington Street will be two-way between St Nicholas Street and Little Berrington Street. All of Gwynne Street will be two-way.
Whilst there will be a pinch point at the St Nicholas Street end of Berrington Street, the benefits of traffic using the Broad Street "hinterland" should outweigh any difficulties that may be experienced.