The 2013 annual Mop Fair in Stratford-upon-Avon takes place on Friday 11 October and Saturday 12 October.
The Charity Mop is on Friday 11 October from 4pm until 11pm. The Main Mop is on Saturday 12 October from 11am until midnight and will be formally opened by The Chairman of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Cllr Chris Mills.
The Mop has an historic tradition. The original Charter was granted by Edward VI on 28 June 1544 and its part of what makes Stratford-upon-Avon unique.
Stratford-on-Avon Mop Fair has its origins in hiring agricultural and domestic labour, set out some time during the reign of Edward III and provision of the statutes of labourers. The date is set for 12 October (or is moved if the 12th October falls on a Sunday), and as a pleasure fair it remains a key date in the Warwickshire calendar. In the 1950s, during the prominence of railway travel, a plethora of special trains were laid on to ferry the local population to and from the fair.
Stratford Mop has an associated 'runaway mop' one week later taking place on 24 and 25 October. This tradition derived from the need for employers to reconsider and re-hire any staff before committing to a full years work.
This street fair has a tradition of exciting and up-to-date riding machines, as well as maintaining loyal old-fashioned rides. The fair is also renowned for the open roasting of pigs and the atmosphere remains at a premium right up until its midnight closure.
The District Council is very grateful for local people and businesses assistance and co-operation in making the operation of the Mop as trouble free as possible.
Stratford-upon-Avon Road Closures
To accommodate the Mop the following streets in Stratford-upon-Avon will be closed from 5am on Friday 11 October until 6am on Sunday 13 October:
- Greenhill Street
- Rother Street (from Ely Street)
- Wood Street
- Union Street
- Bridge Street
- Windsor Street (from Mansell Street)
- Meer Street
- Henley Street
- High Street
This year's runaway Mop will take place in the town centre on 24 and 25 October. The following streets will be closed from 5am on Thursday 24 October until 6am on Sunday 26 October:
- Greenhill Street
- Rother Street (from Ely Street)
- Wood Street
- Windsor Street (from Mansell Street)
- Meer Street
The District Council appreciates these closures of town centre streets can cause problems with access for vehicles and parking during this time, but the road closures will be strictly enforced.
