With just a few days to go organisers are pulling out all the stops to make sure this year's event is the biggest, most exciting and colourful Alderley Edge May Fair yet.
The bunting is up ready for the celebrations, the funfair rides have started to arrive and the final preparations are well underway ahead of the 6th May Fair on Saturday, 21st May - all we need now is for the sun to shine!
Organisers have put together a week of events leading up to the main event which started on Saturday, 14th May, with a 1940s dance at the Festival Hall featuring the Swing Commanders which proved a great success.
The next event is a summer BBQ with live jazz, performed by the talented keyboard player and singer Jeremy Sassoon, which will be hosted at Aldeli on Thursday 19th May.
Then on Friday 20th May there will be an evening of activity and live entertainment in the park, commencing at 5pm with a crown green bowling competition, followed by a 5-a-side footie competition at 5.30pm and a 5k Fun Run, organised by Physio Fit, starting at 7pm and raising money for CRY.
Throughout the evening there will also be live music from local acts on two stages and food and drink will be available to purchase until 10pm. Additionally some of the stallholders and charities will already be set up and the fairground rides will be open until 9pm, including this year's new feature - 'The Booster - a 120ft high ride'.
Then on the big day, the celebrations kick off at 11am when the parade leaves Chorley Hall Lane playing field to snake, shuffle and conga through the village centre to the park. Led by the Town Crier, who will announce the many groups and entertainers - including the White Horse and Wizard of Alderley, the Chester Giants, fancy dress participants, dance groups, giant puppets, military vehicles, vintage cars and the May Queen and her attendants who will be travelling in a horse drawn carriage.
Prior to the parade there will be entertainers in the village and Alderley History Group will be displaying old photographs of Alderley Edge on the London Road railings above The Parade, so people are advised to get there early to soak up the atmosphere and get a great view of the parade.
After the parade there will be plenty to do in the park from 12 noon until 5pm including the fancy dress competition, circus acts, ferris wheel, bouncy castle, live music, high adrenalin funfair, vintage photo booth, bumper cars, zorb balls, climbing walls and artisan market stalls.
The ever popular Fun Dog Show returns at 2pm with classes including best veteran, cutest bitch, beefiest dog, waggiest tail and most appealing eyes. Plus for the first time there will be a doggie Olympic Games for dogs of all sizes, shapes, speed and age. Dog owners and spectators will also be encouraged to participate alongside their pets in the events, which will include the sack race, bean bag race, obstacle races and agility.
This year's fancy dress has an open theme, judges will be looking for something original and current. Age groups will be 4 years and under, 5 to 8 years and 9 to12 years. Entrants should gather at Chorley Hall Lane Playing Field at 10.30am ready for the parade and then make their way to the tennis courts afterwards for the judging.
Aldeli on Wilmslow Road will be offering free parking on their land for this weekend's May Fair events.
Motorists and local residents are advised that Chorley Hall Lane and London Road, from De Trafford Arms to the junction with Ryleys Lane, and Ryleys Lane will be closed for approximately one hour from 10.45am to allow the parade to pass through the village.
See our events calendar for more details.
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