#midsummer fair

Midsummer fairs, sometimes called ‘watches,’ were incredibly popular throughout the Medieval period. But in Chester, they were more than a festival. The Midsummer Watch became the highlight of the year, taking on a carnival-esque tone to the whole celebration. 

This became a problem in 1611, when Midsummer’s Day fell on a Sunday. The Assembly was worried it was perhaps too risky to proceed as planned, and pushed the fair to the Monday after.