Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championships

Egremont Crab Fair

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Cultural & TraditionalEgremont
DatesDates TBA · Usually SeptemberCheck locally before booking
DurationAutumnEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsFew British fairs combine a documented
LanguageEnglishCurrency: GBP
CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type
The story

Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championships in Egremont

Egremont's September fair traces its charter to 1266 and centres on the World Gurning Championships, where competitors pull the most extreme face they can manage, often framed by a horse collar, alongside greasy pole climbing and traditional Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling. Crab apples are still thrown from a cart down Main Street, the custom that gave the fair its name.

Egremont's fair traces its charter to 1266 or 1267, when Henry III granted the town the right to hold a market and annual fair, a lineage the organisers cite in calling it the oldest fair in the world.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few British fairs combine a documented 13th-century royal charter with a competition as strange as competitive face-pulling

02

The mystery stays covered

Gurners compete through a horse collar known as a braffin, historically used to frame the most extreme contortion for judges, and the World Gurning Championships have made Egremont a fixture of British popular culture well beyond Cumbria

03

The city starts moving

The same day includes Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, a regional grappling style with its own rules and grips, and greasy pole climbing for a prize suspended at the top, giving the fair a genuinely local sporting identity alongside its more famous face-pulling contest

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Crab apples are thrown from a cart down Main Street in memory of the medieval Lord of Egremont's original distribution to the town

Water and renewal

Living ritual

Gurners compete through a horse collar known as a braffin

The sacred route

Living ritual

The day includes Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling and greasy pole climbing alongside the World Gurning Championships

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually September

Getting around

For Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championships, plan transport around the exact Egremont venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Wear comfortable shoes for a day spent standing and moving between the street parade and the field events, with a layer for changeable September weather in west Cumbria.

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championships, stay near the part of Egremont you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

GBP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map54.48 N, 3.53 WOpen in Google Maps

Egremont, England, United Kingdom

Nearest airportIOM — Isle of Man
TransportFor Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championships, plan transport around the exact Egremont venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championships, stay near the part of Egremont you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Egremont via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Egremont, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for September.Compare faresFestival gearWear comfortable shoes for a day spent standing and moving between the street parade and the field events, with a layer for changeable September weather in west Cumbria.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United Kingdom and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championships?

Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championships is listed for September · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championships take place?

The festival is listed in Egremont, United Kingdom. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Egremont, England, United Kingdom

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLegremontcrabfair.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually September
Source statusOfficial source linked
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