10 free Hull Fair trivia questions with answers — trivia quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
Hull Fair isn't just any carnival—it's been a beloved Yorkshire tradition since 1617, making it one of England's oldest street fairs. Now test whether you're a true Hull Fair expert or just a casual visitor. Take the quiz and find out.
All 10 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01Hull Fair holds which European record?
The largest travelling funfair
Unlike small local fairs, it pulls rides and travelling showmen from all over the country for a single week each October.
Q 02Hull Fair received its first Royal Charter in which year?
1279
Hull Fair received its first Royal Charter in 1279, although it is believed to have operated informally prior to this date.
Q 03Which month does Hull Fair typically open each year?
October
The fair always encompasses 11 October, opening at 5 pm on a Friday and closing at 11 pm on the Saturday eight days later.
Q 04Who traditionally opens the fair on its opening evening, normally at 5 pm?
The Lord Mayor
The civic opening is one of the city's oldest traditions; the fair has run under Royal Charter since 1279.
Q 05By tradition, what did an enraged Hull mob cry when the 1750s calendar change threatened the fair?
"Give us back our eleven days!"
The mob got its way: from then on 11 October, or the Friday nearest to it, became the fair's official date.
Q 06In which year was the permanent Walton Street fair ground first laid out?
1888
The permanent ground was laid out in 1888 at six acres, later growing to 12 acres in 1908 and 14 acres in 1932; it sits beside the MKM Stadium.
Q 07Which of these is a traditional sweet treat commonly associated with Hull Fair?
Brandy Snaps
The fair's brandy snaps have traditionally come from Wright and Co. in Brighouse, and the name has nothing to do with brandy: it derives from 'branded', meaning burnt.
Q 08The fair runs from a Friday evening to the next week's Saturday, closed on Sunday. On how many days is it open?
Eight
Nine calendar days minus the traditional Sunday closure leaves eight days of trading, opening at 5 pm on the first Friday.
Q 09During WWII the fairground served as a vehicle park, tank training ground and mooring point for what?
Barrage balloons
The fair was also skipped from 1915 to 1918 and again in 2020 for the pandemic, and it very nearly did not go ahead in 1938 during the Munich Crisis.
Q 10What was the original primary function of Hull Fair when it first began centuries ago?
A trade and livestock market
In 1440 the town laid down where each trade stood: horses in the Ropery, cattle in Mytongate, sheep in Salthouse Lane, and merchants and craftsmen in the market-place.