Enjoying the fair

Information for Visitors

Downton Cuckoo Fair is a large community fair involving 250+ stall holders in marquees, accommodating up to 20,000 visitors, hosted on the beautiful greens through the centre of the village and in the Memorial Gardens. You’ll walk about 2.2Km or 1.5 miles to see all of it.

Find a small fairground, rural craft demonstrations, all sorts of stalls, hot food and entertainment for all ages. There are live performances hosted at the local pubs and traditional Maypole and country dancing. Feel free to bring picnic blankets or camping chairs which you can use in our Party in the Park!

The Cuckoo Fair is unticketed and free to enjoy, with paid parking provided by local organisation raising funds. Please do not obstruct the many lanes around the village which would make access for emergency vehicles difficult.

Downton Cuckoo Fair is an all-weather event however the Event Committee reserves the right to cancel the event should incidents or conditions outside of their control arise.

• The Fair opens at 10.00 am and closes to the public at 4.30 pm when Visitors will be required to leave and all the exhibitors will take down their stalls. Car parks will be locked at 6pm.
• Please be aware that the Downton Cuckoo Fair is held on grassed areas – the ground may be uneven or grass damp so take care. You might like to consider whether you bring your hairy hounds along and any large children’s buggies, which can make negotiating the narrow and busy stall areas quite tricky. Dogs should not be left in vehicles or the police may be called.
• We have a dedicated security team and Zone Managers who will be patrolling throughout the fair – wearing Purple-Yellow hi-viz vests – please do let them know of any concerns, issues or incidents (inc safe guarding). Advice and assistance is available from the Information Centre located in the middle of the Fair near the Co-op. Lost property or missing children can be left / found there or contact a Zone Manager. There is a First Aid station outside the Memorial Hall in the middle of Fair by the entrance to the Fairground and also a team by the marquee by the Maypole. Toilets are available throughout the site.
• Announcements may be made via the PA system or by Zone Managers. Please follow their instructions.
• We have a very good relationship with our Local Police and know they are very reasonable and friendly.
• There are many events during the day so to avoid missing anything, please look out for one of our day leaflets or our roadside posters. Our Facebook page will be putting out any key messages or changes to the programme on the day!

Conditions of Entry

The Downton Cuckoo Fair Committee is committed to providing a safe event enjoyable to all persons and therefore the following rules are in place. This is a community event for all ages so please behave considerately and responsibly. We ask that you respect the happiness and wellbeing of other fair goers at all times.

• Children under the age of 18 attending the Fair events must be accompanied at all times by their parent or guardian.
• Dogs on short leads are welcomed but note that the Bylaws applied to the Borough Greens and the Memorial Gardens, request that dogs are not allowed to foul these areas. All dog owners must dispose of their dog faeces safely. Dogs must not be left unattended or in vehicles.
• Disorderly behaviour will be addressed by the event security team and/or Wiltshire Police as required. There is a zero tolerance policy on violence or threatening behaviour and offenders will be dealt with accordingly.
• Smoking is not permitted within any marquees or any enclosed workplace, public building (including gazebos, toilets) or on public transport that forms part of the event. This includes the use of e-cigarettes or similar.
• Use of the car parks is at your own risk, the ground maybe damp/soft. Please obey the instructions of the marshals. The speed limit of 5mph will be strictly enforced. All vehicles and contents are left at the owner’s risk and, please leave by 18:00. Gates locked at 18:00.
• Use of the fairground attractions and rides are at your own risk.
• Any Goods, Items or Services sold/provided by stallholders are solely their responsibility. Downton Cuckoo Fair Committee will not be held liable for such goods, services or items. In the unlikely event of dissatisfaction with your purchase please contact the stallholder who provided it.
• Whilst Downton Cuckoo Fair takes place along a public right of way, the Fair is covered by a Road Closure order and there is to be no cycling or use of scooters anywhere at the Fair. We have security staff in place to help manage access and deter anti-social behaviour. They may politely ask you to move away from the area and if necessary, escort you out of the area, Downton Cuckoo Fair will involve the police if the situation requires it. Downton Cuckoo Fair Committee reserves the right to refuse entry for any reason to the event. Any person who is ejected from the event for any reason, will not be re-admitted at any stage over the length of the fair, and may be subject to dispersal procedures from the local police.
• Alcohol can be purchased at this event from a number of licensed stalls and venues but must be consumed responsibly. It will not be sold to anyone who is drunk, disorderly or under 18 years of age. It is the decision of the seller as to whether alcohol is sold or not and their decision is final. Stallholders reserve the right to refuse the sale of alcohol even if a form of ID is shown. The following are acceptable means of identification: valid International Passports, valid driving licenses or ID Cards showing the PASS mark. Anyone who abuses others or is caught drinking under the legal age will be dealt with appropriately by the event security team. We ask that you do not drink alcohol outside the fair perimeter and this will be enforced by the local Police if required. We ask that you do not drink and drive and that you make appropriate travel plans before the fair. The local public transport network are aware of the event and may run additional services.
• Identification must be shown on request to stall / venue staff and the event security team.
• No illicit drugs are to be brought into the Fair site by law and will be removed. No bikes, electric bikes, or scooters, lasers, fireworks or offensive weapons are permitted on the Fair site. Appropriate action will be taken by local Police and event security if this is attempted. Anyone believed to be carrying banned items may be subjected, with their consent, to a search by event security. Refusal to allow the search could result in appropriate action taken by local Police and event security.
• We allow filming at the event but wish to protect the integrity of the fair, its entertainers, stall-holders and visitors. You are free to record your own visit for your own personal home use.  You will not be able to sell any photos or moving images of the fair for commercial or other gain. Please respect the privacy of other attendees who may not want to be filmed.  Please do not bring any professional equipment with you and please be aware of health and safety issues.
• Visitors may be filmed, recorded or photographed by us (or approved media partners) for broadcast, promotion or security purposes during the event.
• As the fair is held within the confines of a village with several thousand people attending, no drones are permitted to overfly or be operated from the fair or its car parks. It is illegal to overfly crowds. If you attempt to fly a drone or remote controlled aircraft from anywhere on site, including the Car Parks, you will be stopped and asked to leave, and may be reported the police. For further advice please see the UK Civil Aviation Authority Drone Code.

The Downton Cuckoo Fair would like to thank you for your cooperation and hope you enjoy the event. For any further details or queries during the event please contact a Zone Marshall, a member of the Event Management Team or go to the Information Tent located in the centre of the village by the Co-Op.

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