The traditional Mayfair opening ceremony will take place this year for the first time since the Pandemic began, on 3rd of May 2022, outside Hereford Cathedral at 3.30pm.
Members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend this historic occasion. The opening ceremony of the Mayfair has age-old ties with the City of Hereford, stretching all the way back to 1121, when King Henry I granted the Bishop of Hereford the right to hold a three day fair. That makes the Mayfair 901 years old!
Since 1838, it has been tradition to provide the Bishop with twelve and a half bushels of best wheat in payment for the fair. Though this has little significant value today, it was an appropriate payment for the Bishop when this tradition was established, and still occurs on a yearly basis to this day.
The civic event will take place outside of Hereford Cathedral, where the wheat will be weighted – as is custom – and the Bishop and the Mayor will exchange hands to declare the Mayfair open.
This year is particularly momentous as the fair was unable to take place during 2020 and 2021 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Witness the opening of one of Hereford’s most ancient celebrations on the 3rd of May.
For more information on the history of the Mayfair, visit:Â https://herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/may-fair/
