A horse fair is an annual fair where people sell and buy horses. In the United Kingdom such fairs are traditionally attended by travelers and the Romani people. The Appleby Horse Fair is one of the longest-running events of this kind. No one knows for sure when it was held for the first time but the fair is believed to be several centuries old.
Although the Appleby Horse Fair is held at regular intervals, it is a spontaneous gathering that has no official organizers or scheduled events. However, several public sector agencies coordinate the fair to make it safer. Besides, gypsies and travelers that arrive at the fair have a leader who takes care of all the arrangements and acts as a liaison with the coordinating committee.
The Appleby Horse Fair is a meeting place for different ethnic groups that share a similar culture and lifestyle such as the Romani people (gypsies), Scottish Travelers and Irish Travelers. It also attracts an estimated 30,000 non-gypsy attendees. The fair takes place on the first week of June, from Thursday to the following Wednesday, but main events are held over the weekend on Fair Hill.
As we’ve already mentioned above, the fair doesn’t have a set program. It is a traditional gypsy get together rather than an organized festival. People come here to enjoy themselves, watch the horses be washed on the river bank, and observe horse trading. The fair also features palm readers and fortune tellers, traditional musics, trade stalls offering clothes, tools, hardware and horse-related merchandise, and more.
