The Cuckoo Fair

The Downton Cuckoo Fair is a long-running community event that has taken place in the village since at least the late 1970s. Its 40th anniversary was marked in 2019 with a parade of classic cars and an opening from the Mayor of Salisbury, and the fair returned after a pandemic pause in 2022, drawing strong crowds each year since.

It’s a traditional village fair at heart — craft and gift stalls, food vendors, and entertainment for the whole family, with proceeds going to support local charities and community groups.

The fair is usually held on the Saturday of the first May bank holiday, which occasionally falls at the end of April. In 2025 it ran on 3 May, from morning through to late afternoon.

Activities are spread across the Memorial Gardens and surrounding areas: rural craft demonstrations, a Punch and Judy show, wandering clowns, fairground rides, and dancing including Maypole and Morris sides, with music from the Downton Brass Band and other live acts. Pets are best left at home given how busy it gets, and there’s guidance for stallholders on setting up early. The fair is organised by a dedicated team with support from local sponsors.