A way of life’: the people behind St Giles Fair

Exhibition 1 July – 28 September 2024

Museum of Oxford, St Aldates, OX1 1BX

Every year, St Giles, a wide road in Oxford city centre, becomes a fairground for two days. St Giles Fair has happened every September for centuries, only pausing for a few years during World War Two. First documented in 1625, the Fair remains a hugely popular event today.

The fair wouldn’t exist without those who bring it to town: highly skilled artists, performers, and ride operators. This special photographic exhibition puts the spotlight on the people behind St Giles Fair, many of whom belong to the little-known, distinct community of Showmen and women: a traveling people united by trade, culture and a way of life.

Featuring archival photographs, video footage and newly collected oral histories, the exhibition is accompanied by a programme of family workshops and show-and-tell events with members of the Showmen’s community. Go to www.museumofoxford.org for a full programme.