Dates for 2013 are as follows:-

Charity Mop - Friday 11 October 2013

Main Mop - Saturday 12 October 2013

Runaway Mop - Thursday 24 and Friday 25 October 2013

One of the great things about living in Stratford, is going to the annual Mop Fair, which is one of the country's biggest fairs. The Stratford Mop also has an associated 'runaway mop' one week later.

I've been looking forward to the mop for months. It's great fun for everyone involved. The attractions take over the entire town centre for two days, attracting thousands of visitors.

This street fair has a tradition of exciting and up-to-date riding machines, as well as maintaining loyal old-fashioned rides. In October the Mop is a sign that winter's on the way: it signals the beginning of the build-up to Christmas, with the Christmas lights starting to go up soon after. It's a brilliant start to the winter season.

Some of the things I personally love about the mop is that first thing in the morning the roads are quiet and tranquil yet so full of exciting rides and amusements, and pedestrians claim the centre of the roads without having to dodge traffic. Then as the day progresses the town comes to life with sounds, smells and atmosphere. The noisy music of the rides and the shrieks of the riders, the smells of frying onions and candy floss, the bright lights in all colours of the rainbow flashing all round you, and everywhere you turn people are enjoying themselves and having an amazing time. The atmosphere remains at a premium right up until its midnight closure.

What makes the Mop Fair different from most fairgrounds is that it takes place in the medieval streets of Stratford, just as it has for hundreds of years. Of course the annual Mop Fair isn't in any real sense a medieval fair. Walking through the streets you have to be careful to avoid the electrical cables that power the rides. But it's an amazing night and a fun filled experience.

The rides are always surprisingly exciting. One of my favourites is 'Storm', which rises about eight storeys above the ground, then whips round at great speed, spinning the seats themselves in the process. Many of the rides are fast, loud and vibrant, all adding to the excitement that thousands of people enjoy every year. Despite the crowds the queues are always very short/non-existent.

You can also find Special offer yellow tickets available which allow you to get 50p off any ride, up until 5:30pm .

If you've never seen the mop in action in this beautiful historic town, it's an amazing sight that's well worth a look.