May fairs

2024 May fair dates

  • Leominster - 2 May to 5 May inclusive
  • Hereford - 7 May to 9 May inclusive

Hereford May Fair

Heart-stopping rides, side-shows, food stalls and ancient ceremonies are all part of the street extravaganza which is Hereford's May Fair. The fair has been taking place for over 900 years.

Old house may fair 16 1895

Hereford May Fair c1895                                                           Hereford May Fair 2016

A ceremonial proclamation of the historic St Ethelbert's May Fair officially opens the fair, offering 12-and-a-half bushels of wheat by the Mayor to the Lord Bishop as payment for allowing the fair to proceed.

The Hereford May Fair takes place on the first Tuesday to Thursday following the first Monday in May.

Opening times:

  • Tuesday 3.45pm to 11pm
  • Wednesday 12 noon to 11pm
  • Thursday 12 noon to 11pm

These are the times between which attractions are allowed to operate. Not all rides will necessarily be open at all times.

Time-lapse Hereford - High Town, opens in new window

Leominster May Fair

Leominster May Fair is a smaller traditional fair held in selected town centre streets each April or May.

The Leominster May Fair takes place on the Thursday to the Saturday before the first Monday in May.

Road closures for Leominster May Fair

Corn Street, Corn Square, Victoria Street and Broad Street (part) in Leominster will be closed from 6pm on Wednesday 1 May until 8am on Sunday 5 May 2024.

Road closures for Hereford May Fair

To ensure the smooth running of the festival, some of the city streets will be closed during the period of the fair.

The roads closed to traffic from 5pm on Monday 6 May until 7am on Friday 10 May 2024 are:

  • Broad Street from its junction with West Street/East Street to its junction with King Street
  • King Street from its junction with Broad Street to its junction with St Nicholas Street/Bridge Street
  • Bridge Street from its junction with St Nicholas Street to its junction with Gwynne Street
  • St Owen Street From its junction with St Peters Square to its junction with St Ethelbert Street
  • St Nicholas Street from its junction with Bridge Street/King Street to its junction with Berrington Street
  • High Town
  • Commercial Street
  • St Peters Street

Some parking, loading and unloading areas will also be closed in Union Street and in the streets mentioned above.

In addition, Widemarsh Street (from its junction with Blueschool/Newmarket Street) and High Street will be closed to traffic from 4.30pm to 11pm on 7 to 9 May 2024. This will make High Street a safer pedestrian area for fair goers.

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.

Diversion routes will not be signposted because, with so many possible permutations, such signing would be too confusing for motorists, especially visitors to the city.

All of the other city centre roads will operate as near normal as possible.

All of Gwynne Street will be two-way.

There may also be additional congestion for traffic using St Martins Street for access onto the A49 during the period of the fair.

Herefordshire Council urges drivers to be patient and considerate on the roads during the period of the fair.

For enquiries please contact markets@herefordshire.gov.uk