Churchminster’s Haystack Festival

For 300 years, the Haystack Festival was one of Gloucestershire’s most famous events. It was traditionally held in the first week of July in a large field on the outskirts of the village. The main draw was ‘The Haystack Grand National’ which involved villagers and local people in fancy dress jumping over a course of hay bales. Churchminster's Haystack Festival The winner would receive a ‘free pass’ to Churchminster for one year, which in olden days would mean things like free vegetables and the gift of a pig from a local farmer. In later years it translated into drinks on the house at The Jolly Boot (as well as getting the best parking spot) and complimentary penny sweets at the local shop.

As well as the Haystack Grand National, the event was a great chance for old and young to mingle. Stalls selling locally produced cider and hog roasts were set up, along with a ‘Kissing Stall’ where the prettiest girl in the village would give local lads a kiss on the cheek for sixpence. A few years ago one particular boy caused consternation when he tried to pay for it with chip and pin. ‘Who’s Got The Shiniest Nose?’ competition was also popular with all dog lovers in the district, while much merriment was had from the ‘Melon Relay’ where teams had to run with a large honeydew between their inner thighs and transfer it to the next member without dropping it. At the end of the day, all the hay bales were turned into one giant hay stack and left for children to play in.

Unfortunately in 2005, a gust of wind caused the hog roast to set fire to a hay bale and the following year Gloucestershire County Council closed the event on the grounds of ‘health and safety’. Locals were outraged and campaigned to have the Haystack Festival reinstated, but as yet the honeydew melons are still on the shelves at the local supermarket.

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