There has long been debate over whether or not the fair should be able to open on a Sunday
Hull Fair organisers have issued an update after a bid was made to break tradition and open Europe’s largest travelling funfair on a Sunday. Based at Walton Street car park in west Hull, the event is attended by visitors from far and wide, offering more than 300 rides and attractions to enjoy.
The fair traditionally runs for eight days – this year from Friday, October 10, until the following Saturday (October 18) – though efforts have been made to extend this to include Sunday. The event’s roots can be traced back more than 740 years.
The middle Sunday has historically seen the fair close as it gave showmen travelling from the Nottingham Goose Fair enough time to get to Hull, though the Yorkshire section of the Showmen’s Guild has called for this to be scrapped and for at least one of the Sundays to be open for families and visitors.
“Some say not opening on the middle Sunday is what makes Hull Fair unique. We are now looking at whether we can open on the last Sunday rather than the middle one,” the guild’s chairman suggested in 2023.
“That is an option. It would allow another day for families but still give residents a break in the middle.”
Hull City Council has previously been keen to keep the event closed on Sunday, citing that the day is needed to give residents living in the area a break from visitors after regularly consulting with them.
This will once again be the case – at least for now – with the Showmen’s Guild confirming this year’s event will continue with the same format.
“The Yorkshire Section are disappointed to inform Tenants of Hull Fair that the Events Team have withdrawn their proposal for a new three-year licence, which included opening on Sunday,” Hull Fair officials confirmed on social media.
“They have been unable to gain permission to open on Sunday from ward members. Negotiations are ongoing, with a potential for opening Sunday in 2026.”
Followers shared their reactions at the decision, with one user believing that it “would be better for the younger kids as it’s such a rush after school and before huge night crowds arrive.”
“It would be so much better on a Sunday with an earlier closing time. [It] would relieve the mayhem of the first Saturday so much,” another resident commented.