Horsham’s Floral Fringe Fair to go virtual after second year of cancellation

The Floral Fringe Fair – which took place at Knepp Castle before moving to Amberley Museum in 2019 – will now be held via Facebook and Instagram over the weekend of June 5 and 6.

Organiser Jean Jackman will use the fair’s social media accounts between 10.30am and 5pm to promote stallholders by sharing pictures of their work and using the hashtag #floralfringefair to help visitors to buy from them.

Jean said: “We have over 30 stallholders taking part, who have been busy beavering away uninterrupted during lockdown, making jewellery, pyrography, stained glass, sown items, painting, felt work, ceramics, garden pots and collecting vintage clothing and other vintage items, gardenalia and even someone selling coffee beans and ground coffee that they will deliver.

“They are all ready to sell online at The Floral Fringe Fair. We also have several nurseries taking part for the first time online, which I’m particularly pleased about.

“It is all a bit of a learning process for everyone but I do hope people will join us to support and shop from these local small businesses.”

The Floral Fringe Fair usually welcomes around 140 stallholders featuring plants, artists, wildlife, makers, vintage goods, as well as a variety of live singing, music and dancing.

The event also features plenty of food stalls, and visitors are encouraged to dress in style and turn up in vintage and classic cars.

The fair was set to take place for the first time at Leonardslee Gardens in 2020 before being cancelled, and was booked in again at the location in Lower Beeding this year before being called off once more.

The change in location came after parking at Amberely Museum the previous year caused issues.

Jean said: “Unfortunately we were too popular for our own good and the car-parking wasn’t easy, and although a local farmer kindly rented us his field the long walk back to cars with purchases wasn’t satisfactory.

“Our weekend this year was June 5 and 6 but lockdown doesn’t completely end until June 21, and that’s as long as things go in the right direction infection-wise.

“After losing money in the spring of 2019, having advertised the fair, we are cautious about committing to dates for an actual fair until after the final stage of the easing of lockdown in June. But please watch our Facebook page and our Instagram for news.”

Visit https://www.facebook.com/floralfringefair or find Jean on Instagram @FloralFringeFair