Topcliffe Fair
Edward III granted the charter for a fair to be held at Topcliffe every  year  around  the  Translation  of  St. Thomas,   that  is 17th, 18th and 19th July, in 1327.

Over the centuries, the Fair developed its own traditions. The first day was for the sale of sheep, the second for the sale of horses and the third was Lady Fair Day, when young men would take their sweethearts to the sweet and trinket stalls. Two men appointed by the Lord of the manor kept order during the Fair, their unusual badges of office were a halberd and a pike. It seems that order was quite difficult to keep, even with these fearsome weapons, with many disagreements being settled by fistfights in the streets!

The residents of Topcliffe made several attempts to have the Fair abolished, due to the disorder and unsanitary conditions that occurred each year. They finally succeeded in 1970, and the Fair no longer takes place.




Goathland Plough Stots
The Plough Stots are a team of sword dancers who dance around Goathland and the surrounding area, begging for alms and threatening to plough a furrow in the front garden of anyone who refuses them. Traditionally this took place on Plough Monday – the first Monday after January 6th. It now takes place on the following Saturday due to modern working schedules. The dancers also perform on other days throughout the year to raise money for charity.