Stevenage’s popular Charter Fair is back and rolls into town next Friday, September 22.

The Comet: One of the steam powered merry-go-rounds pictured in 1907One of the steam powered merry-go-rounds pictured in 1907 (Image: Archant)

There will be a two-day extravaganza of fairground stalls, rides, candy floss and prizes.

It takes place along the High Street between 2.45pm and midnight on Friday and Saturday.

The High Street will be closed to traffic during those times.

Drapers Way will be closed from 6am on Thursday, September 21, to 4am on September 24.

The Comet: The Helter Skelter at the fair in 1907.The Helter Skelter at the fair in 1907. (Image: Archant)

Hitchin Road, Lytton Way and the High Street – from the junction of Martin’s Way and Hitchin Road to the junction of Trinity Road and the High Street – will also be closed while the fair is in town. Alternative signed routes will be provided while the road closures are in place.

The Charter Fair is a major part of the town’s history, and has been held every year since King Edward I granted Stevenage a charter in 1281 – giving the right to hold a weekly market and yearly fair for all time.

A new exhibition at the Stevenage Museum in St George’s Way is currently celebrating the history of the Charter Fair, with the sights, sounds and even smells of fairs gone by.

For more see stevenage.gov.uk/about-stevenage/museum/30067.