Enjoy all the fun of the fair at the Forest Recreation Ground as Goose Fair returns from Friday 27 September to Sunday 6 October.
With more than 350 rides and attractions and thrills aplenty for all ages, Goose Fair is one of the largest travelling funfairs in Europe and has been staged annually in Nottingham since at least 1284.
Half a million visitors are expected to attend the ten-day event. The consumer spend for last year’s fair was estimated to be over £7 million, with £1 million of this spent on transport, helping to generate a significant economic uplift for the city.
New rides this year include the Hulk – XL Super Trooper, Aerospace, Equinox, and a classic vintage wheel. There will also be lots of returning favourites such as Atmosfear, Matterhorn, Starflyer, Magic Mouse, and giant wheels giving panoramic views across the fair and the city beyond. All the Goose Fair classics will be in attendance too, such as Waltzers, Dodgems, Gallopers, and the Cake Walk – the only ride still operating that featured when the fair was held at Old Market Square – plus lots of side-show games such as hook-a-duck, hoopla, darts, and basketball.
For the first time in its history, SEND sessions will take place on Sundays from 12pm-1pm. Going to a funfair should be an exciting experience, but for some children and people with special educational needs and disabilities, the loud noises and bright lights can be alarming. These elements will be reduced during the SEND sessions to offer a quieter and more relaxed experience.
Food is always a highlight at the fair and along with the traditional fairground favourites of mushy peas and Cocks-on-Sticks, visitors will be able to eat their way around the world with a diverse range of food from Greek and Caribbean to Chinese cuisines.
Fairgoers can once again get money-off ride vouchers to save 50p on participating rides and attractions from Monday to Friday. They can be downloaded as e-vouchers from just £1 at whatsonnottingham.com, or found in special editions of the Nottingham Post, Derby Telegraph, and other regional newspapers.
Cllr Sam Lux, Executive Member for Carbon Reduction, Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council, said: “I’m delighted that the extended ten-day fair will return this year. We can see how the event boosts Nottingham’s visitor economy, with families and people of all ages enjoying the fun of the fair, and we’re proud to offer SEND sessions this year to make the event more accessible.
“We look forward to welcoming residents and visitors alike to Goose Fair once again this autumn. Traditional attractions and fairground favourites will be on offer, as well as exciting new rides for those seeking an adrenaline-rush.”
William Percival, Chair of the Showmen’s Guild (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire branch), said: “We’re looking forward to being back for a ten-day fair, which has been a success for the last couple of years and seems to be working well. There are always a lot of returning visitors and Goose Fair is a part of their tradition, such as parents and grandparents bringing their children. The fair belongs to the people of Nottingham and it’s great to get their support each year.”
Opening times
Friday 27 September 16:00 – 23:30
Saturday 28 September 12:00 – 23:30
Sunday 29 September 13:00 – 21:00 (SEND session 12:00 – 13:00)
Monday 30 September 16:00 – 22:30
Tuesday 1 October 16:00 – 22:30
Wednesday 2 October 16:00 – 22:30
Thursday 3 October 16:00 – 22:30
Friday 4 October 16:00 – 23:00
Saturday 5 October 12:00 – 23:00
Sunday 6 October 13:00 – 21:00 (SEND session 12:00 – 13:00)
Travelling to Goose Fair
Tram
Trams are now expected to run as normal, including to Goose Fair, from Saturday 28 September due to industrial action being called off.
See more information about tram timetables via the NET website or NETGo app.
Bus
Journeys can be planned via NCT or trentbarton buses. Single adult fares are £2, or for just £8.50 the Grouprider ticket allows unlimited day travel on all NCT buses in the City Zone for up to 5 people (max 2 adults). The trentbarton zigzag group ticket allows unlimited day travel on trentbarton buses for £18 (up to 5 people).
NCT will run frequent services on the Yellow, Brown, Purple, and Lime routes, stopping on Mansfield Road at Forest Gate. Buses will run every 3-4 minutes on Friday and Saturday and every 4-6 minutes on Sunday. In the city centre, board these buses on Parliament Street or Milton Street.
Car
Blue Badge event parking is available for £10 per car at the Forest Recreation Ground. There is no other public vehicle parking permitted on site. Visitors are not permitted to park on residential streets in the area – this will be strictly enforced.
Visitors can use city centre car parks including Trinity Square, Victoria Centre, Q Park Talbot Street, Crowne Plaza Wollaton Street, Lace Market, and Broad Marsh. It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk to the Forest Recreation Ground from the city centre.
Taxi
Private hire taxis will be able to pick up/drop off on Bentinck Road.
Cycling
Visitors can travel to Goose Fair via bicycle or on a Lime e-bike. E-bikes can be parked at one of the bays near the Forest Recreation Ground, or there is event cycle parking for both bicycles and e-bikes, which can be accessed from gate 11 at the junction of Forest Road East and Waverley Street. E-bikes can be hired through the Lime app, available on the App Store or Google Play. Lime is currently offering new users two free trips using code NOTTFRESHERS24, enabling new users to get to the fair and back for free.