ORGANISERS of one of Thurrock's biggest community events are hoping for another bumper turnout for the festivities due to take place this weekend.

Horndon on the Hill Feast & Fayre will take place over Saturday (28 June) and Sunday (29 June) with a theme centred around the anniversary of The Woolmarket, one the village's ancient landmarks and a centre of trade for 500 years.

Borough mayor Cllr Sue Shinnick will open the event at 10.30am on Saturday.

The Feast & Fayre traditionally harks back to the 13th century, when the village was granted a Royal Charter to hold a feast and celebration on the last weekend in June.

 The event was revived in 1974 and Horndon Church was open during the weekend with a themed Flower Festival. This tradition continues and Feast & Fayre has expanded massively over the years to provide thousands of local people and visitors with a weekend of music, entertainment, stalls, crafts, food and drink.

The Horndon 10K has also been an annual fixture on the Sunday of Feast & Fayre and more 500 runners are expected to take part this year on Sunday.

There will be many performances by the Thurrock-based Complete Commedia Company, local Morris dancers and musicians and bands from across the area. The tug-of-war between the two village pubs, The Bell and The Swan, will conclude the weekend's activities.

This year the event has been supported by DP World which, in line with the theme, have organised a children's competition to design a Feast & Fayre poster focused on trade through the ages.

Charities and organisations that meet at The Woolmarket will be the beneficiaries of this year's event.

"With a sunny weekend forecast we really hope this will be our best ever Feast & Fayre but we need as much help as possible to bring it all together," said Nick McDonald, co-chair of the voluntary organising committee.

Horndon village will be closed to traffic between 9am-5pm on both days.   

Parking

Parking is situated at the Recreation ground on Orsett Road, SS17 8NR. Please refrain from parking around the village as this impedes access for emergency vehicles.

​Disabled Parking/Accessibility 

Disabled Parking is available at the Primary School on Mill Lane but is limited.

Toilets are available in The Woolmarket, The Village Hall, The Methodist Hall, The Church, The Swan, and The Bell Inn.

Accessible toilets are available in The Village Hall, The Woolmarket and The Bell Inn.

​Food and Drink

There are multiple places to get a large variety of food and drink throughout the village including;

The Bell Inn, The Swan, The Ostlers, Reddingtons Butchers, The Church, The Methodist Hall, The Woolmarket and various street vendors.

The full programme for the weekend can be viewed via the PDF link below.