Louth Town Partnership Victorian Fayre, Sunday October 31st 10am to 4pm

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It includes a wide variety of activities many with a Victorian theme. With modest funding from the Partnership the Fayre has been planned and organised entirely by a small group of independent and hard-working volunteers.

The core of the Fayre is a comprehensive street market focusing on arts, crafts and, as befits a recognised good food town, locally produced foods of all kinds. Almost 50 stallholders from around Lincolnshire are enthusiastic participants.

But in planning the Fayre, the Partnership’s events team, led by Patrick Neville, sought something out of the ordinary, a theme-driven event to bring the Louth community together in a novel and imaginative way. So the Victorian Family Fayre was born. Work began on creating an extravaganza of activities reflecting this rich and proud period in British history.

Everyone attending the Fayre in Louth’s historic town centre is invited to wear something Victorian, not necessarily elaborate or expensive. There are prizes for the Best Victorian Costume and Best Stall.

In planning the entertainment programme, the organisers have been pleasantly surprised at the amount of local talent and enthusiasm in and around Louth.

Within a few weeks the events team rounded up a Punch & Judy man, a fortune teller, a genuine fair organ, a harpist, buskers and street entertainers, all kinds of singers, a silver band, Morris Men and face painters.

Food and drink stalls include everything from Christmas and other specialty cakes, sweets and fudge, preserves, cheeses, a specially-brewed Victorian porter beer and Victorian-recipe sausages from a local butcher who decided to open on a Sunday to support the town.

Indeed, several local businesses normally closed on a Sunday have followed suit, while local identities have offered their personal services and facilities. They include an expert auctioneer from the BBC’s Bargain Hunt antiques show, a Louth solicitor who is happy to play busker to the crowds and a local steam engine owner whose fair organ will fill the market place with rousing renditions old and new.

Brackenborough Arms Hotel will be giving cookery demonstrations during the day along with Partnership Board member and Sky TV Chef Emily Roberts in Louth Town Hall. With the businesses open in the indoor market the day will surely be an all-weather feast of fun and entertainment.

The Fayre follows two previous community events hosted by the Louth Town Partnership. In June, the ground-breaking and successful Party in the Pews was held in the magnificent surrounds of St James Church, while in July the St James Fair was staged in the town centre.

Already plans are being made for similar events in 2011.