October 11 & 12

Stratford-on-Avon Mop Fair has its origins in hiring agricultural and domestic labour, set out some time during the reign of Edward III and provision of the statutes of labourers. The date is set for 12th October (or is moved if the 12th October falls on a Sunday), and as a pleasure fair it remains a key date in the Warwickshire calendar. In the 1950s, during the prominence of railway travel, a plethora of special trains were laid on to ferry the local population to and from the fair. Stratford Mop has an associated 'runaway mop' one week later. The tradition of this is from the need for employers to reconsider and re-hire any staff before committing to a full years work.

The 2018 annual Mop Fair in Stratford-upon-Avon will take place on Thursday 11 October and Friday 12 October. The Charity Mop is on Thursday 11 October from 4 pm until 11 pm. The Main Mop is on Friday 12 October from 11 am to midnight and will be formally opened by the Chairman of Stratford-on-Avon District Council. Stratford's associated 'Runaway Mop' will take place on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 October 2018