By Rachael Grealish

Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championship is returning after a four-year hiatus with its biggest-ever entertainment line-up.

To celebrate the return of the festival, which takes place over the weekend of September 15 to 17, the organisers have put together three days of music from singers, bands and DJs.

This will be the first Crab Fair since 2019 after it was postponed for the first time since WWII due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As in previous years, Friday night Dancing In The Street will take place, followed by Crabfest on Saturday, but new for 2023 the Fair’s organisers have added a Sunday session, Dancing in the Field. There will also be sporting events running in the week before the main Fair.

Callum Scott, chair of the organising committee, said: “We’ve had lots of feedback in the past that the fair ends too quickly. So this year we decided to take that feedback on board and build on the success of events in the field.

“Our Dancing in the Field session on Sunday is the perfect antidote to the Crab Fair come down and means people can enjoy the fair for one more day.

“We’ve managed to secure Fleur and the Flamingos, and they’re joining us on Sunday, from Manchester to give us a soulful mix of sultry pop. We can’t wait to hear them in our tent in our field!”

The weekend of entertainment kicks off on Friday, September 15, with performances from Kerry Weir, the Scottish bagpipe band Drum’s N Roses and The Mustangz, among others, all hosted by the iconic Cumbrian DJ, Robbie Dee.

Crabfest returns on Saturday 16, headlined by Mac Busted, The Phonics and Northern Threads, other acts include Solomon, Coasts, Danny Dunnery and Little Lies.

Crab Fair’s Sunday daytime session, Dancing in the Field will feature acts and performers such as Fluer and the Flamingos, Jonny Donat, Nikki, Amy Morton and Steve Tubman.

Of course, the world’s oldest fair wouldn’t be completed without the search for the Crab Fair Queen, crab apple throwing, the greasy pole competition and the World Gurning Championships which take place on Saturday 17.

Callum added: “The Crab Fair really is one of the best events of the year and the organising committee is working hard to make sure that this year’s event is the very best it can be.

“We believe that with everything on offer, there is something for everyone. So come along, you won’t regret it.”

Tickets for Crab Fest and Dancing in the Field can be purchased via the Egremont Crab Fair & World Gurning Championship Facebook page.