Golden tickets glitter at Tadley Treacle Fair
Thousands expected at May 31 event
Thousands of visitors are expected to stream in to this year’s charity fundraising Tadley Treacle Fair on Sunday, May 31 – and there are glittering golden tickets up for grabs.
Four golden tickets will give each of the lucky winners free entry to the fair, for a family of up to four people, plus free fairground rides and food at the fair, organised by Loddon Valley Lions, at Saunders Field.
The Lions are hoping to top the £10,000 raised for charity at last year’s fair, which attracted 4,500 visitors.
A Saturday evening performance in the main marquee will see Madness tribute band Special Kinda Madness perform.
On Sunday, the Treacle Fair starts with the traditional procession from Burnham Copse Primary School at 12.30pm.
It will be led by the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band – better known as The Spitfires – and the new mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Anne Court, will also be at the head of the procession in a horse-drawn carriage, before she officially opens the fair at the main arena at around 1pm.
An action-packed main arena features Pony Club mounted games, dance displays by Tadley-based group Dance Phaze, a parade of vintage vehicles and The Spitfires providing more rousing music.
A children’s arena offers circus skills, clowns and jugglers, along with face-painting.
The Loddon Valley Lions have also organised donkey rides, a climbing wall, water balls and a bucking bronco.
The Lions and helpers have also set up book and bric-a-brac stalls, a coconut shy and a display of vintage vehicles.
Other attractions include fairground rides, a food village, hog roast, trade and charity stalls, carriage rides and ferret racing.
Tadley youth council will also be giving out 600 orange and black wristbands, aimed at encouraging interest in the its website prior to the expected opening of Tadley’s new youth centre, The Point, in November.
Admission to the evening tribute band performance costs £8. Doors and bar open 7pm to 11.30pm. Tickets are available from Tadley Calleva FC in Barlows Park, Silchester Road – call 07867 908253 or 07788 508872.
Admission to the Treacle Fair is £2 for over-16s, £1 for children aged five to 15. Off road car parking is free.
For more information visit www.loddonvalleylions.org.
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Aldermaston photographers David and Marion Canning will return to the craft tent at the Treacle Fair to raise funds for the charity Cats Protection.
Mr and Mrs Canning will host two model railways, and the stand will also feature their 2016 cat calendars, which are being sold in aid of the Basingstoke branch of Cats Protection.
