Glasgow Fair

Glasgow Fair
DateLast 2 weeks in July
This Year:
Saturday 15 July 2023
FrequencyAnnual

The Glasgow Fair is a holiday usually held during the second half of July in Glasgow, Scotland.[1] 'The Fair' is the oldest of similar holidays and dates to the 12th century.[2][1] The fair's earliest incarnation occurred in 1190, when Bishop Jocelin obtained permission from King William the Lion to hold the festivities.

Until the 1960s,[citation needed] most local businesses and factories closed on 'Fair Friday' to allow workers and their families to attend, typically spending their time in the Firth of Clyde or Ayrshire coast.[2] This practice was known as going "doon the watter" (literally "down the water" in the Glasgow dialect).[3][1]

  1. ^ a b c Naughton, Nuala (17 July 2016). "All you need to know about Glasgow Fair traditions". Glasgow Live. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b "BBC - Archive - Bank Holidays - A Fair Fortnight". bbc.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Reliving Glasgow Fair Fortnight". BBC. 15 July 2010.