Did you go along to the Rowlands Castle Association’s May Picnic earlier this year?
If you did, you may already know just how much fun Gary Logan’s Boxercise sessions can be. If you missed it, don’t worry—you’ve got another chance to join in at this year’s Rowlands Castle Village Fair!
🥊 Gary will be back in the Arena on Saturday 4th July, straight after the Dog Show, ready to get everyone moving.
Boxercise is a brilliant way to burn off some energy, learn new skills and have lots of fun with your friends and family. You’ll get to throw punches at pads, practise simple boxing moves and take part in exciting activities led by Gary.
And before anyone asks…
🚫 No sparring! No getting hit!
This is all about fitness, fun and confidence-building in a safe and friendly environment.
Whether you’re a budding champion or just looking for something exciting to do between the rides, stalls and shows, come along and give it a go.
Who knows? You might discover your hidden boxing talent!
One of the highlights of this year’s Rowlands Castle Village Fair is a fantastic programme of live music and entertainment running throughout the day and well into the evening.
From traditional brass band favourites and Morris dancing to talented local performers, a headline Queen tribute act and a late-night DJ set, there’s something for everyone to enjoy on Saturday 4th July.
The Day Begins with Tradition
The music starts at 11.30am when the ever-popular Blendworth Brass Band takes to the stage. A regular favourite at the fair, their uplifting performance is the perfect way to get the day underway.
Shortly afterwards, at 12.45pm, the Victory Morris Men bring colour, energy and a touch of English tradition to the village green. Their lively display of Morris dancing is always a crowd-pleaser and a wonderful part of the fair’s heritage.
Local Talent Takes Centre Stage
Throughout the afternoon, a series of talented performers will keep the entertainment flowing:
1.30pm – Velvet Whiskers
2.45pm – Alice Milburn
4.00pm – Marley Blandford
5.15pm – AstroModa
Whether you enjoy acoustic melodies, contemporary sounds or energetic live performances, these acts showcase some of the best local musical talent around.
Evening Entertainment
As the afternoon turns into evening, the atmosphere shifts up a gear.
At 6.30pm, The Generation Game take to the stage to keep the crowd entertained with a lively set guaranteed to get people singing along.
Then, at 8.00pm, the fair welcomes its headline act, Forever Queen. Expect all the iconic hits, soaring vocals and unforgettable stage presence that have made Queen one of the world’s most loved bands. It’s set to be a spectacular performance and a fitting climax to a fantastic day.
Party into the Night
Just when you think the music is over, DJ Loz takes over at 10.00pm, keeping the party going with an upbeat mix of crowd favourites until the fair closes at 11.00pm.
A Full Day of Entertainment
With live music running from morning through to late evening, plus the dog show, Punch and Judy, fairground rides, food stalls, bar, horticultural show and much more, the Rowlands Castle Village Fair promises a memorable day out for the whole family.
So bring your friends, bring your neighbours and make a day of it. Whether you’re a fan of brass bands, folk traditions, live bands, classic rock or dancing under the summer sky, you’ll find something to enjoy at this year’s fair.
Rowlands Castle Village Fair Saturday 4th July 2026 11am – 11pm The Green, Rowlands Castle
On Saturday 4th July, the Rowlands Castle Village Fair returns to The Green, and it’s packed with fun things for children and families to enjoy all day long. The fair opens at 11am and there’s something happening from the moment you arrive.
Ride, Spin, Bounce and Laugh!
One of the biggest attractions is the funfair, with plenty of rides for children. Whether you love gentle rides, bouncy castles, bungee trampolines or just the excitement of the fairground atmosphere, you’ll find something to enjoy. Even better, many of the rides are being subsidised by Quay Building Services, helping to keep them affordable for families.
Don’t Miss Punch and Judy!
Get ready for plenty of giggles at the famous Punch and Judy Show. Ben Bamboozle will be performing throughout the day, with shows at:
11:45am
1:00pm
2:00pm
3:45pm
So if you miss one, don’t worry—you’ll have another chance to see Mr Punch, Judy and all their hilarious adventures.
Woof! Woof! The Dog Show
Love dogs? Then head over to the Dog Show, which starts at 12:30pm on The Green. You’ll see dogs of all shapes and sizes showing off their talents and competing for rosettes. Who knows—you might even spot the village’s next canine superstar! 🐕🏆
Can You Win a Prize?
Make sure your parents buy some tickets for the Grand Raffle. There are always fantastic prizes up for grabs, and the winners will be announced at 5:00pm. You never know—you could be taking home a prize! 🎁
Explore the Horticultural Show
Step inside the Parish Hall and discover the Horticultural Show. You’ll find amazing flowers, vegetables, photographs, artwork, cookery and much more. Some of the entries are created by children, so perhaps you’ll be inspired to enter next year. 🌻🍰📸
Music, Food and So Much More
As you wander around the fair you’ll hear live music, see colourful stalls, watch Morris dancers, meet local groups and discover lots of exciting things to do. There will be delicious food and drinks available throughout the day, so you can keep your energy up for more adventures.
See You on The Green!
Bring your family, bring your friends and come ready for a fantastic day of fun, laughter and community spirit.
📅 Saturday 4th July 2026 ⏰ 11.00am – 11.00pm 📍 The Green, Rowlands Castle
Have you got a prize-winning rose, a spectacular bakewell tart, a favourite photograph, or a piece of artwork you’re proud of? Then why not enter this year’s Horticultural Show? Every exhibit helps make the show a success, and you’ll be joining a tradition that has been enjoyed by generations of village residents.
Whether you’re a keen gardener, enthusiastic baker, talented photographer, creative artist, or simply enjoy having a go, there’s a class for everyone. Taking part is great fun, and you might even go home with a prize!
There are classes for:
Fruit, vegetables and flowers
Floral art
Arts and Crafts
Cookery
Photography
There are categories for both adults and children. Young exhibitors, aged up to 12, can win cash prizes, while adults can compete for a wide range of cups, trophies and awards.
You don’t need to be an expert to enter. Many classes attract first-time exhibitors, and everyone is welcome. Why not challenge yourself and showcase something you’ve grown, made, baked, photographed or created?
Entry deadlines
Garden Show: Friday 26th June
Horticultural Show classes: 8.30pm on Wednesday 1st July
Please deliver or post your completed entry form(s) to:
1 Yardlea Close Rowlands Castle PO9 6DQ
To help the organisers plan the show, it would be greatly appreciated if you could submit your entries as soon as possible.
Village Fair magazines containing entry forms and full details are available from Home Hardware, Londis and many other local businesses.
🎶 Live Music at the Rowlands Castle Village Fair! 🎶
Get ready for a fantastic day of family fun, community spirit, and great entertainment at this year’s Rowlands Castle Village Fair! 🎉
We’re delighted to welcome back the ever-popular Blendworth Brass Band, who will be performing on the village green from 11.30am. 🎺 Their lively mix of traditional favourites and uplifting tunes always creates a wonderful atmosphere and is the perfect soundtrack to a summer’s day at the fair.
📅 When: Saturday, 4th July 2026 ⏰ Fair opens: 11:00am 🎺 Blendworth Brass Band: From 11:30am 📍 Where: Rowlands Castle Village Green
Bring your family, friends, and neighbours along for a memorable day packed with live music, delicious food, children’s attractions, local stalls, displays, and much more. 🎡🍔☀️
As we count down to the Rowlands Castle Village Fair on Saturday 4 July 2026, we’re inviting you to share your favourite photos from fairs past and present.
Whether it’s a treasured memory from decades ago, a colourful scene from recent years, or a picture that perfectly captures the spirit of our village fair, we’d love to see it.
Our favourite photo will win a £50 meal voucher to spend at The Castle Inn.
Post them on Instagram using #RowlandsCastleVillageFair
We’ll also be running a separate competition on Fair Day itself for the best photo or video taken at the 2026 fair, so don’t forget to bring your camera or smartphone.
In less than a month’s time, the Rowlands Castle Village Fair will once again bring our village green to life, welcoming hundreds of visitors for a day of fun, entertainment and community spirit.
To make the day a success, we’re still looking for a few more volunteers to help with:
Pre-fair set-up (Friday from 4pm, Saturday 6:30am–11:00am)
Children’s activities – Bungee Jump and Log in the Bog (11:00am–5:00pm)
BBQ payments and food preparation (mid-afternoon onwards)
Paella payments (1:00pm–5:00pm)
Dog Show (11:00am–2:00pm)
You don’t need any previous experience. If your role involves taking payments, we’ll show you exactly what to do, either before the fair or on the day itself.
Even an hour or two of your time can make a real difference. Volunteering is a great way to meet people, support your local community and help keep this much-loved village tradition thriving.
As a small thank you, anyone volunteering for two hours or more will receive a FREE BBQ item and a drink from the bar.
If you can spare some time, we’d love to hear from you.
The RCVF Committee is delighted to announce that this year’s Village Fair magazine has rolled off the presses at Bishop’s Printers and will soon be making its way to homes across the village.
Copies will either be delivered to your door or available to collect from a range of local outlets, including Home Hardware, Londis, The Castle Inn, The Bumblebee Cafe, Halls Garage, Rowlands Castle Pharmacy, Barbers on the Green, The Robin Hood, The Staunton Arms and the local Shell Garage, among others.
You may also find a flyer titled “Volunteers Needed – Your Fair Needs You”, inviting local residents to lend a hand by giving just a couple of hours of their time to support the fair.
We’re also launching a photo competition, open both to those with favourite memories and photographs from past fairs, and to visitors capturing the atmosphere on the day itself.
And finally, don’t forget to mark Saturday 4th July in your diary — we look forward to seeing you there!
It’s taken rather longer than we first envisaged, but the Rowlands Castle Village Fair’s new shed is now almost ready for use.
For as long as anyone can remember, we’ve relied on a small wooden shed behind the parish hall to store our gazebos, bunting, BBQ and bar equipment. It’s served us well, but the time has come to move on. The new shed is significantly larger and, crucially, much easier to access—something that will make a real difference on set-up day.
Work began back in the autumn, when Louis Silk laid the 6m x 3m concrete base on which the shed now stands.
After that, progress paused until March, when kinder weather finally allowed us to tackle the flat-pack metal structure.
With over 90 different parts, 232 individual components (not including some 2,200 screws, nuts, bolts and washers), and a 37-page instruction manual, we knew from the outset this was not going to be a quick job.
Day One – Saturday
We assembled en masse early on Saturday morning, sorted the myriad parts into some semblance of order, and began work on the base frame—knowing it had to be perfectly square if everything else was to fit.
Progress was slower than hoped, particularly when it came to installing the Rawl bolts.
Following a welcome break for bacon baps and tea, we marked out the base positions and turned our attention to assembling the side walls.
A light breeze meant several members of the team were pressed into service as human props, holding panels steady while others wielded screwdrivers. Meanwhile, separate teams worked on the front and side doors, and another group began constructing the internal support frame to stabilise the increasingly wobbly structure.
By the end of day one, we had the walls up and one gable end in place—a solid start.
Day Two – Sunday
Sunday brought further progress. The front doors were fitted, the gable ends completed, and the roof frame assembled.
However, when it came to fitting the roof panels, we hit a snag. A bit of backtracking was required, and even then the holes in the panels stubbornly refused to line up with those in the frame.
At that point, there was only one sensible course of action: tools down, and adjourn to the pub.
During the week
A flurry of emails with the supplier followed, complete with photographic evidence. Eventually, towards the end of the week, “Dave the Shed Whisperer” took a look. With a bit of expert jiggery-pokery, four roof panels were successfully installed by Thursday evening.
Day… N – Saturday
Buoyed by Dave’s intervention, the team reconvened the following Saturday. Progress was still steady rather than swift, but morale remained high—helped along by sausage and bacon baps, coffee and biscuits.
After a fair amount of pushing, pulling, and a pragmatic approach to slightly misaligned holes, we finally completed the roof and top flashing.
Just a few finishing touches remain before the great transfer begins. Watch this space!
Screwers, doers, refreshments and support
In alphabetical order: Andy M, Andy T, Bob L, Claire T, Dave ‘shed whisperer’, Donna G, Grahame M, Heidi A, Herb M, Jesse, Lisa L, Louis S, Patch, Pete F, Phil H and Susan M.
