Today it has been confirmed that Nottingham Goose Fair 2021 will not go ahead.

The latest round of talks between Nottingham City Council, who owns Forest Recreation Ground where the event takes place, and the Nottinghamshire Showmen’s Guild, who host Goose Fair, concluded with the decision not to host an event in October 2021.

The cancellation comes down to a range of issues related to Covid-19, including infection rates, testing requirements at large events and guidance from experts in public health and planning.

Goose Fair 2021 was originally scheduled to take place between Wednesday 6th October and Sunday 11th October 2021, after having been cancelled in 2020 due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Nottingham City Council leader Councillor David Mellen said: “The cancellation of Goose Fair for a second year running during the current Covid pandemic has been a very difficult decision to make. The event is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people of all ages every year and is an important part of Nottingham’s cultural calendar.

“We know this will be disappointing for very many people but we think it’s the safest thing to do. Residents’ health and public safety have to come first.

“In line with advice received from the Safety Advisory Group for Events and national guidance, we had looked at other options in discussion with the Guild, including measures to control attendance, but these weren’t agreed as feasible due to the nature and traditional of the event and the site.

“There are around 100,000 visitors each day to Goose Fair and in a city with high Covid cases and lower rates of vaccination at the current time, we have to base decisions on public safety. There have been numerous factors involved and we have also been mindful that Government advice could change at any point.”

Councillor Mellen added: “A decision needed to be taken now rather than run the risk of having to cancel closer to the event when further significant time, effort and money would have been spent in preparation by the council and the showmen.

“We all recognise the impact of losing a major event like this on Nottingham and the wider area in an economic sense to local businesses.”

There is no current word on the status of Goose Fair 2022.