Frequently Asked Questions

It is always held on the second Saturday in July, from about 11am to 5pm. This year’s Beggars Fair will be on Saturday 11th July 2026.

There are no tickets. It’s always free! However, you can support us by purchasing a Souvenir Programme, which are on sale from mid-June.

We don’t publish this on our website, but if you choose to purchase a Souvenir Programme, this will list the complete running order. Sales of the programme help us to keep this event free for attendees. If there are any late-breaking changes to the running order or acts after the programme is printed, these will be listed on our Programme Updates page.

Venues which are public open spaces allow dogs. Other venues set their own policies regarding dogs, which may be specified on their websites. Please also note that many venues are very crowded on the day of the Beggars Fair when considering whether to bring a dog. Assistance dogs are of course allowed in all venues.

Please see our Venue Accessibility page for full details of step-free access, disabled parking, and disabled facilities.

Beggars Fair is not a charity; we are a not for profit limited company. All monies raised go towards funding the next event. The members of the organising team are all volunteers and give their time for free.

The performers organised directly by the Beggars Fair play for free.

You can find more details on our History page, but in short: in the 17th Century, Romsey had a badge, the Romsey Beggars’ Badge, issued to performers who had the right to beg and perform in the town. When the Beggars Fair was founded and needed a name, the badge served as inspiration. It seemed like a good fit for the event as it was a free event, and we would be collecting contributions to pay for it.

Absolutely! Beggars Fair simply wouldn’t happen without our incredible volunteers. Our committee is made up solely of volunteers, who have monthly meetings (in the evening) to organise the event. We are happy to welcome new members if you would like to be part of this.

We are also very grateful for any help on the day. From helping visitors and supporting performers, to assisting with road closures, programme sales and event set-up, our volunteers are at the heart of the festival. Whether you could spare a couple of hours or support us for the full day, every role makes a difference and helps keep this much-loved community event running.

Volunteering at Beggars Fair is a fantastic way to meet new people, be part of a friendly team, gain event experience, support your local community, and help keep a community tradition alive. No previous experience is needed, just enthusiasm, reliability and a willingness to get involved. We welcome volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, and there are a variety of roles available both before and during the event.

If you’d like to be part of Beggars Fair, please complete the form on our contact us page and a member of the team will be in touch.

Please see our code of conduct for performers and code of conduct for participating venues. Our code of conduct for vendors will be published shortly.