Egremont Crab Fair 2025: Everything you need to know

Planning to head to Egremont Crab Fair this year?

Organisers are promising that the 2025 event will be bigger and better than ever.

Here’s your essential guide to what’s on where and when.

Friday September 19 – Dancing in the Street

First introduced in 2004 with a single act performing in Market Place, the event was launched as Dancing in the Street in 2013 as a way to officially open the fair.

Friday will mark the first day of the main street temporarily closing to traffic for the fair to take place.

The closure is in place from Market Street junction to Castle Villas and will last until Sunday 21 September.

Pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained and a signed diversion is in place via Main Street, the A595 and Vale View.

This year’s Dancing in the Street event will start at 5pm on the Friday and will end at around 11pm and will be hosted by Egremont’s own Stella the Fella.

Acts will include Mandi Leonard, The Mustangz, Superfly, Sam Davidson, US 2, Jessica Stretton and youngsters from Razzamataz.

The fairground will also be open and street entertainment, the wheelbarrow race and pipe smoking contest will also go ahead.

Food stalls and vendors will also open on Friday evening.

To enter the wheelbarrow race, pairs must sign up in either The Wheatsheaf, Blue Bell or Kings Arms. Ask a staff member for the sign up sheet.

The sheets will be collected on Thursday September 18, if no pairs are noted, the wheelbarrow race will not go ahead.

The pipe smoking competition typically takes place next to the main stage around the start of the evening.

Saturday September 20 – Main Street

Saturday is the core day of the fair, with all the main activities set to take place including the parade of the apple cart and the gurning.

Shops and pubs in the town also stay open as normal throughout the fair.

The timetable for the day is as follows:

9am to 10am: Street racing
9am to 1pm: Main Street stage entertainment to include local dancing groups and music
9.30am: Blessing the fair
9am to 2pm: Street market
9am to 10pm: Fairground
9.30am to 2pm: Vintage bikes and cars
10.30am: Greasy pole
11.30am: Riding the boundary
12.30pm: The parade of the apple cart

Saturday September 20 – the Crab Fair field

After the parade of the apple cart takes place at 12.30pm, all the action moves onto the Crab Fair field.

While most of the times listed below are final, some times may be moved to accommodate the Stuntworld International Show.

Everything from sporting events that can be entered on the day, to the horticultural tent judging, to dog racing, inflatable bouncy castles, and a bike stunt show will be on site at the field for visitors to enjoy.

Entry to the field costs £7 plus concessions and includes access to both the daytime events and CrabFest.

9am Horse events start
9.30am: Registration opens for dog racing.
10.30am: Start hosted by Graham Hogg
10am: Fairground
11am: Horticulture tent judging
12.30pm: Open terrier, lurcher, whippet and gun dog show, followed by Best in the West Championship
12.30pm: Bee Unique arena – featuring inflatable toys and slides – opens

Sports events

12.30 Men’s 800m cycle
12.45 Women’s 800m cycle
1pm Adults’ 800m footrace
1.15 Adults’ 90m heats
1.25 Youths’ 90m heats
1.40 Men’s 800m cycle final
1.50 Women’s 800m cycle final
2pm Youths’ 800m cycle final
2.15 Women’s race from crowd
2.25 Grandmas’ race
2.30 Youths’ 800m footrace
2.40 Men’s 1600m cycle
2.45 Men’s 1600m footrace
2.50 Men’s race from crowd
2.55 Granddads’ race
3pm Adults’ 200m footrace heats
3.05 Youths’ 200m footrace
3.10 Men’s 3200m cycle race
3.20 Youths’ 1600m cycle race
3.25 Women’s 1600m cycle race
3.30 Adults’ 200m footrace final
3.40 Youths’ 200m footrace final
3.50 Devil’s cycle race
4pm Adults’ 400m footrace
4.15 Egg throwing
4.30 Terrier race

Field highlights

1pm: Ferret show event starts
2pm & 4.45pm: Stuntworld International
2.30pm: Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling
4pm: Novelty dog show

All day at the field

Wheels of Wellness trampolines
Children’s activities
Walkabout street entertainers
Fair rides
Market stalls
Food
Children’s TV characters
Circus skills
Viking encampment and display
Science experiments

Crabfest 2025

The beer tent at the field will feature live music from AKA Skafell, Jlan, Chelsea Reynolds, The Jam Shed, Harrison Miles, Sneaky Finch and Jameson.

Tickets are not being sold online this year for Crabfest.

Tickets can be bought on the day at the entrance to the fair field for £7 plus concessions – the ticket also covers access to the fair field to watch the other events taking place.