Multi-period historical displays at The Sheffield Fayre, Norfolk Heritage Park, Norfolk Park Road, Sheffield S2

Sunday 24 and Bank Holiday Monday 25 August 2008 - our 6th fantastic year!
10.30am to 5.30pm Free admission

Living history - re-enactments, battles and skirmishes - entertainments - a huge amount to see and do!

Due to the success of previous shows, Sheffield City Council has again invited EventPlan to stage historical displays as part of the 2008 Sheffield Fayre, once again with encampments spread over the picturesque landscape, and with superb views of the extremely photogenic main arena. Around 25,000 visitors are expected to flock to the park for this great event. Click for Red Zebra's photos of our 2007 event, or for frequently asked questions.

Exciting arena displays will depict history through the ages with skirmishes, combat and soldiers' drill, equestrian displays, hand to hand fighting, musket, cannon & other weapons firing. Highlights include American Civil War and WWII battles.
Ongoing living history demonstrations will run concurrently with the above, with visitors taking the opportunity to literally "walk through history", finding out about military and everyday life through the ages and seeing period crafts & cooking. Children can also enjoy (safe) medieval have-a-go archery (a small charge applies).

Historical traders will also be present. In addition to our historical displays, there were the usual crafts, a horticultural show, children's entertainments and other activities to enjoy. A fantastic family day out for visitors!

Performers

There's a first class line up of performing groups:

Classical Greek: The Spartan Society

Romans: Legio VIII Augusta MGV

Medieval: The Knights Hospitaller Association

C18th : The 47th Regiment of Foot and the Charles Edward Stuart Society

Victorian: The 11th Hussars (in splendid recreated uniforms from the time of the charge of the Light Brigade)

American Civil War: The American Civil War Society

American West: The Arizona Rangers and C Company, 7th US Cavalry

WWII: The Northern World War II Association, The Yanks Living History Group, 2/Pz.Aufkl.Abt.Grossdeutschland, Airborne Associates, Civilians at War Society, Independant Field Company and Northern Forties.

Period swordsmanship lessons and demonstrations: The Society for the Study of Swordsmanship.




The battles

The WWII battles will once again feature lots of British, American, German and Soviet soldiers, explosions, machine gun fire and furious combat as the Germans attack!
The biggest battle will however be our ever popular American Civil War display. Sweeping, colourful action with cannon, cavalrymen and massed ranks of Union and Confederate soldiers. There's a close link with Sheffield too as many weapons made in the city were exported to both sides, and with a staggering 50,000 British volunteers fighting on one side of the other, some of these men will have come from Sheffield and Yorkshire.

Our parade of performers through the ages from Romans to WWII is a highlight not to be missed! It includes the chronological parade, massed volley of musket and rifle fire, and the boom of cannon. A minute's silence in honour of British troops currently engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq - and particularly those lost in action - will be observed by the participants and thousands of onlookers. The Spartan Society will also be paying tribute to the late Paul Allen, society member, historian and highly-regarded Ancient Greek enthusiast, who tragically lost his life following a television jousting accident shortly after last year's Sheffield Fayre.

Plus the usual mixture of everyday life through the ages including cooking, clothing and fashion, encampments and crafts. Added to all the other activities and displays on offer to visitors at the Fayre, it will be a truly fantastic weekend!

Children can enjoy (safe) have-a-go archery with the Knights Hospitaller Association
Explore soldiers’ encampments through the ages. Find out what life was like in past ages, what soldiers and their families wore, ate, worried and joked about.
Discover the lives of camp followers and civilians through the ages. See food prepared, find out what people ate and how different life was compared with today.
Explore and experience the history and technique of dueling with swords with the Society for the Study of Swordsmanship. Any timed displays?
Meet C18th Jacobites of the Charles Edward Stuart Society and have a go on their drums!
Find out about life as a British redcoat fighting the American rebels during the 1770s
Meet soldiers of General Custer’s 7th US Cavalry
WWII living history from The Yanks Living History Group, Civilians at War Society, Independant Field Company, Airborne Associates and Northern Forties
Visit a fascinating selection of historical craftsmen and traders.
Please feel free to visit the performers’ encampments and displays, and don’t be shy to ask any of the performers any questions you may have, as they are very friendly.



Important Health and Safety information – please note

For your safety and that of others, always follow these simple rules on site:

In the unlikely event of an emergency, please stay calm and follow instructions given over the public address system and by stewards.

Historical displays can be dangerous! Do not cross tape barriers!

Keep well clear of the horses, which although friendly can kick and bite!

All children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Take care not to trip, slip or fall on site. Beware of slopes and tent guy lines.

Keep clear of camp fires. These are real and often cooking hot food. Don’t touch!

Do not - and do not let your children - pick anything up in the living history areas unless specifically invited to do so by the re-enactors. The weapons and cooking knives are real and can be dangerous in untrained hands!

Please beware of moving vehicles in the car parking area.


More details from www.eventplan.co.uk

Hopefully we'll be going, we really enjoyed it last year :)

Yes, we really enjoyed it lasy year. The highlight has to be the talk that was given during the American civil war demonstration that told of Sheffields involvement. It was absolutely fascinating

I remember visiting my grandads grave in City Road Cemetery, and hearing the guns going off! it scared the bejebus out of me because id forgotten that the fayre was on! :hihi:

As one of the many performers I'm glad to hear how much people like the show.

I thoroughly enjoyed this last time I went; the American Civil War battle was quite literally breathtaking and the WW2 fighting similarly brilliant. Wasn't just the big set pieces though - the encampments were fascinating to wander through and we sat for a while entranced by a couple playing ?13thC music at their wagon.

It was a fantastic event last year with lovely weather, fingers crossed the weather stays good.

hello how do i get to the venue and which bus can i get as i dont drive

hello how do i get to the venue and which bus can i get as i dont drive
By Tram - the nearest tram stop is Arbourthorne Road. There is a five minute walk from the tram stop to the the Park.
By Bus - the number 41 (http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/yorkhumber/southyorkshire/timetables/timetable.php?day=3&source_id=2&service=41&routeid=48222&operator=26&source=sp)passes the Granville Road entrance to the park. Other buses come nearer to the the Park, but are not as regular.
Multimap (http://www.multimap.com/maps/#map=53.36636,-1.44634|15|4&loc=GB:53.36721:-1.4474:16|S2%202PL|S2%202PL)

It's usually a good event and best of all it's free. :)

That's unusual amongst events in Sheffield parks, usually they're something of a rip off.

Excellent. Hope the wet weather we've had has swelled the veg. I love the giant cabbages and leeks etc.

I love the Sheffield Fayre :love: It really is a rarity nowadays to have such a huge event that's free and with so much to see. You can take the kids and if you're cunning, won't have to spend owt :hihi:

Bring on the giant onions!!!

Went to this today, never been before but WOW! what a good day out! the battles were amazing, the kids loved it. can't think why we've never been before but we'll certainly go again. Well done to the organisers and participants.

Its an excellent day out.
I couldn`t go today:( but think I`ll take the little un tomorrow.We went last year and it was fantastic

Im thinking of going today ( Monday) whats it like ??? is it worth going???

If it's anything like last year, it's brilliant!

Me the wife and 2 kids went today (Sunday) absolutely marvellous. great day out if you get into the swing of it. They have all the stalls and stuff like that but in the arena they do demonstrations and do re-enactments of various battles from american civil war to wwll battles. It's great.

Well worth going. Went down today to see the full scale American civil war mock battle with cannons blazing and cavalry charges as well as the WWII mock battle with loads of WWII era vehicles. Excellent show - as it has been over the past few years. And it's completely free entry!

Just curious, did everyone hear the gun and canon fire from the show and if so how far away were you? I live in Crookes and I'm sure I would have heard it from there but I don't know because obviously, I was at the show.

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The Sheffield Fayre. It's brilliant. Been every year and again today. Great stuff and free entry. Cannot fault it

Can't this go in the main forum? It's a huge Sheffield thing and has always been in sheffield discussions!

sorry Ms Macbeth if i put this in the wrong place but I intended it to be not about the actual show but about the noise and how far it travelled. I was curious as to how far the sounds reached around our fair city.

Can't this go in the main forum? It's a huge Sheffield thing and has always been in sheffield discussions!

I agree! It took me a while to find it as it's always been on the Sheffield Discussions page.

We go every year and are going today, it's always a brilliant day and I'm always amazed at the quality of stuff that's laid on for the people of this city.:thumbsup:

Just got back from a wonderful day at the Fayre. Had a brilliant time, went into the arena with the falconry display, my little girl made a fish kite (for free!) so many free activities for kids.

Well done to all the organisers and many thanks.:thumbsup:

I agree! It took me a while to find it as it's always been on the Sheffield Discussions page.

We go every year and are going today, it's always a brilliant day and I'm always amazed at the quality of stuff that's laid on for the people of this city.:thumbsup:

Sorry I put it in the Sheffield Events page because its a sheffield event and it seemed logical at the time. As one of the participants (one of two ARP ladies) I'm pleased to hear everyone enjoyed it. Please let the 'officials' of Sheffield know because they tried to stop it after last years event.

I was a bit bored this year TBH. It was identical in every way to last year (and the year before ). Oh except we got to watch a bit of the olympics closing ceremony while Paul Scriven raised the olympic flag.

Vegetables were a bit thin on the ground in the horticultural show which was a surprise as it got a puff piece in the Telegrah on Friday and I was expecting something better. Nice onions though (and one huge marrow)

Re-enactments were virtually the same as well. Very dramatic but I've seen it now, thanks

Also this event is in the wrong place IMO. The site is so hilly that it makes it very difficult for people pushing wheelchairs or those with mobility problems.

Having said that we all enjoyed the day as a whole and it was a good crowd. Also pleasedthat it remains free.

My OH and myself went again this year, and took friends along from Chesterfield and Aylesbury, and they all thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots to see and do, and the weather was great too, not to warm to bake everyone.

Big thumbs up all round to all those that arranged and/or participated in it.

If you enjoyed the ww2 battles the same group is at Elsecar Railway this weekend. Battles and 1940's displays saturday and sunday.

http://www.elsecarrailway.co.nr/

Just make sure you take you're ear plugs .. :D