By Rachael Grealish

After a three-year hiatus, Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championship is returning for 2023 and bookings for stallholders are officially open.

Following the disappointment of the world’s oldest fair being cancelled for its third consecutive year in 2022 after the COVID pandemic, the team are bringing back the festival for the weened of Friday 15 and Saturday 16, September.

It was confirmed on social media that books are open for stallholders and crafters to join the Saturday 16 events.

Egremont Crab Fair and Sports was established in 1267, which makes it one of the oldest fairs in the world and has only ever been cancelled for a handful of reasons – these include during World War II, the pandemic and due to the passing of HM The Queen on September 9, 2022.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II the committee members posted on social media, confirming the festival would be postponed saying as the country mourns – we must do so also’.

The organisers said: “The Egremont Crab Fair Committee have made the very sad decision to cancel this year’s event: inclusive of all events leading up to the Crab Fair Weekend and the Weekend itself. For clarity, The Queen Disco and darts competition this evening have been cancelled.

“This was a difficult to decision to make; but we feel that as the country mourns – we must do so also. The Committee will be in contact with all parties (acts, entrants, stall holders, film crews) in the coming days. The committee are also beginning to process refunds for purchased tickets and we will be in contact in due course. As a community: we stand together.”