Download our “Hints and tips” guide on promoting your event here, then head over to our events submission page to submit your event!
- This event has passed.
Newent Celebrates – Creative Scarecrows with Canopy
September 13 @ 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Get creative with scarecrows at our Canopy street stall! Our activity is free but please buy your ticket for Newent Celebrates to join the overall event.
Newent Celebrates The English Civil War
Street Fair and Family Fun Stalls
📍 Location: Newent
🕒 When: Saturday 13th September from 10am-4.30pm
From onion eating to parading pooches, Newent Celebrates is an event like no other! The Earl of Manchester’s Regiment of Foote is proud to be a part of this revitalised traditional festival!
Bringing thousands to this quiet corner of Gloucestershire, the town’s Onion Fayre began in the 13th century under the seal of King Henry III. Cancelled due to the covid pandemic, the Fayre is now reborned as Newent Celebrates, and our English Civil War soldiers will help bring the 17th Century to proceedings.
A great day out for all the family, Newent Celebrates is the home of the world-famous onion eating competition, which sees competitors test the strength of their stomachs as they race to consume an entire raw onion. Plus, there will be activities galore, with live music, street entertainment, fairground rides, market stalls selling local produce, and much more!
Weekend schedule
Opening times both days: 10am-4.30pm
Opening times both days: 10am-4.30pm
Saturday 13th September – Street Fair and Family Fun
Come to a 17th Century street fair! Experience Newent as a Civil War garrison town on market day, soldiers roaming the streets keeping order, as visitors peruse the goods on offer from the local traders. Keep an eye out for the vagabonds looting a cart of onions. They are sure to be caught by the militia and taken for trial!
Come to a 17th Century street fair! Experience Newent as a Civil War garrison town on market day, soldiers roaming the streets keeping order, as visitors peruse the goods on offer from the local traders. Keep an eye out for the vagabonds looting a cart of onions. They are sure to be caught by the militia and taken for trial!
There will be music from local musicians, local food and drink, and plenty of entertainment for all the family all through the centre of our medieval town. The park and lake will host many more activities, including a fun dog show (How Period is your Pooch?)
The Manchester Regiment of Foote will be camped at the edge of town, where you can wander through the living village showing life in the garrison camp during civil war times. Newent will be 1644 for the day. We will be running competitions for the best period dressed visitors, best period dressed stalls and shop windows. We would love everyone to join in the fun, and to help you we will in the weeks ahead be posting easy ways to create period costumes. Don’t worry about true authenticity, the whole day will be littered with a large amount of poetic licence! Stalls and music through the streets, and activities in the park. Enter into the fun and come dressed for the 17th Century – prizes for the best costumes! (Free entry to the town, car parking all day £5)
Sunday 14th September – The Big Battle
The highlight of the weekend, experience 17th Century life during the Civil War in the Living Village, and watch The Battle for Newent – a day of exciting entertainment for all the family!
The Earl of Manchester’s Regiment of Foote, part of the Sealed Knot will be camped at their Living Village
on the school playing field, just a stone’s throw from the actual camp of 1644. Come and experience life in the camp, watch the soldiers drilling, and preparing for battle. They may even let you practice with them! The day builds to the main battle in the afternoon when 200 soldiers will be fighting with pike and musket. There will also be cannon fire!
The highlight of the weekend, experience 17th Century life during the Civil War in the Living Village, and watch The Battle for Newent – a day of exciting entertainment for all the family!
The Earl of Manchester’s Regiment of Foote, part of the Sealed Knot will be camped at their Living Village
on the school playing field, just a stone’s throw from the actual camp of 1644. Come and experience life in the camp, watch the soldiers drilling, and preparing for battle. They may even let you practice with them! The day builds to the main battle in the afternoon when 200 soldiers will be fighting with pike and musket. There will also be cannon fire!
Adults £5, children £2, Family tickets £10.
