It’s back, East Midlanders. The bright lights, questionable financial decisions, screams coming from 85 metres in the air, and enough doughnuts to feed a small village.
Goose Fair officially opens at midday today (Friday 25 September) and takes over Forest Recreation Ground for ten days of pure chaos, adrenaline and nostalgia.
Whether you’re a seasoned Goose veteran or someone who’s never experienced the madness before, here’s everything you need to know before heading through those famous gates.
First things first: What actually is Goose Fair?
Goose Fair is one of Nottingham’s biggest annual events, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It’s basically a giant travelling funfair packed with rides, food stalls, games and people trying to convince their terrified mates that “it’s not that scary”.
This year’s fair runs from:
Friday 25 September to Sunday 4 October
And yes, the smell of candy floss and onions is already in the air.
The ride everyone will be talking about
Forget everything you think you know about Goose Fair.
This year welcomes Elevate 85, which stands a terrifying 85 metres tall, making it the tallest ride ever to attend Goose Fair.
If dangling high above Nottingham while questioning every life choice you’ve ever made sounds appealing, this is the ride for you.
Also returning are:
- Skyfall (the world’s tallest portable drop tower)
- Psycho
- Magic Mouse
- Atmosfear
- Waltzers
- Dodgems
- Cake Walk
Basically, whether you like gentle family rides or being launched into the atmosphere, you’re covered.
Best rides for different personalities
If you’re the brave one
- Elevate 85
- Skyfall
- Psycho
- Atmosfear
You’ll be loving life.
If you’re pretending to be brave
- Magic Mouse
You’ll spend the entire queue saying you’re excited before screaming for the whole ride.
If you’re there for nostalgia
- Waltzers
- Dodgems
- Cake Walk
The holy trinity of Goose Fair classics.
If you’re mostly there for Instagram pictures
- Elevate 85 at night
- The giant illuminated ride skyline
- Any photo involving ridiculous amounts of candy floss
Opening times
Friday 25 September
12pm to 11pm
Saturday 26 September
12pm to 11pm
Sunday 27 September
12pm to 9pm (SEND session 12pm to 1pm)
Monday 28 September
4pm to 10.30pm
Tuesday 29 September
4pm to 10.30pm
Wednesday 30 September
4pm to 10.30pm
Thursday 1 October
4pm to 10.30pm
Friday 2 October
4pm to 11pm
Saturday 3 October
12pm to 11pm
Sunday 4 October
12pm to 9pm (SEND session 12pm to 1pm)
Here’s when you should actually go
Want fewer crowds?
Head down during today’s extended daytime opening or on weekday afternoons and evenings.
Want the full Goose Fair experience?
Go on a Friday or Saturday night when the lights are blazing, the music is pumping and every ride operator seems to be trying to outdo the one next door.
Want decent photos?
Get there just before sunset. The fair looks incredible when the rides start lighting up against the evening sky.
The food strategy
Let’s be honest. Nobody goes to Goose Fair and sticks to their diet.
The correct order is:
- Doughnuts
- More doughnuts
- Hot dog you definitely didn’t need
- Candy floss
- Regret
It’s tradition.
Good news for families
The fair’s popular SEND sessions return on both Sundays between 12pm and 1pm.
During these sessions, children and adults with special educational needs and disabilities can enjoy the attractions in a calmer environment with reduced noise and lighting effects.
A few practical things
- Security staff will be on site throughout the event
- Nottinghamshire Police will support operations
- CCTV will be in use across the fairground
- Homemade Café and Forest Sports Zone remain open as usual
How to get there
How to get to Goose Fair
Goose Fair opens at 12pm on Friday 25th September at the Forest Recreation Ground.
Due to , there will be no tram service to Goose Fair at The Forest tram stop on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September, and Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd October. There is the potential for further impacts on tram services during the week.
Services affected
Friday 25th September – Normal tram service
Saturday 26th September – No tram service
Sunday 27th September – No tram service
Monday 28th September – Trams running to all stops (possible delays)
Tuesday 29th September – Trams running to all stops (possible delays)
Wednesday 30th September – Trams running to all stops (possible delays)
Thursday 1st October – Trams running to all stops (possible delays)
Friday 2nd October – No tram service
Saturday 3rd October – No tram service
Sunday 4th October – Normal tram service
Goose Fair tram frequency
During the week (Monday 28th September to Thursday 1st October), trams will operate from every 8-10 minutes, with more frequent trams operating later in the evening to support visitors getting to and from Goose Fair.
Time and frequency
06:00 – 07:00 – Trams from every 15 minutes
07:00 – 10:00 – Trams from every 8 minutes
10:00 – 15:00 – Trams from every 10 minutes
15:00 – 23:00 – Trams from every 8 minutes
23:00 – 00:00 – Trams from every 15 minutes
Bus
Journeys can be planned via or . Single adult fares are £3 or, if you’re travelling in the evening, just £2 after 7pm on NCT buses.
For £10 the NCT Grouprider ticket allows unlimited day travel on all NCT buses in the City Zone for up to 5 people (min 1 adult, max 2 adults), or for £15 you can travel across all NCT services in the City Zone and Outer Zone.
NCT will run frequent services on the Yellow, Brown, Purple, and Lime routes, stopping on Mansfield Road at Forest Gate. In the city centre, board these buses on Parliament Street or Milton Street.
The trentbarton zigzag group ticket allows unlimited all-day travel on trentbarton buses for £18.90 (up to 5 people).
Car
Blue Badge event parking is available for £10 per car at the Forest Recreation Ground. There is no other public vehicle parking permitted on site. Visitors are not permitted to park on residential streets in the area – this will be strictly enforced [link to list of restrictions].
Visitors can use city centre car parks including Trinity Square, Victoria Centre, Q Park Talbot Street, Crowne Plaza Wollaton Street, Lace Market, and Broad Marsh. It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk to the Forest Recreation Ground from the city centre.
On tram strike days, fairgoers can use Wilkinson Street and Park & Rides to ‘park and stride’ to the fair. Wilkinson Street is a 20 minute walk from the Forest Recreation Ground. Please note that you will still need to be parked correctly in a bay. Disabled bays are still reserved for blue badge holders, and parent & child bays are for users travelling with a baby or a child who still requires a car seat. On all other days, if you are parking in Park & Ride sites, you’ll need to use the tram. Those parking without using the tram services on non-strike days may be subject to having their vehicle clamped.
Taxi
Private hire taxis will be able to pick up/drop off on Bentinck Road.
Cycling
Visitors can travel to Goose Fair via bicycle or on an e-bike. E-bikes can be parked at one of the bays near the Forest Recreation Ground, or there is event cycle parking for both bicycles and e-bikes, which can be accessed from gate 11 at the junction of Forest Road East and Waverley Street.
- Lime e-bikes can be hired through the Lime app, available on the or
- Dott e-bikes can be hired via the dott app, available on the or
e-Scooters
and can be parked in the special e-bike and e-scooter bays around the city.
More information
Go to to find out more about Goose Fair.
Streets with parking restrictions during Goose Fair
Look for signage as some roads will only have restrictions for part of their length.
- 1st Avenue
- 2nd Avenue
- Arboretum Street
- Austen Avenue
- Baker Street
- Balmoral Road
- Bentinck Road
- Burford Street
- Chestnut Grove
- Cranmer Street
- Forest Road East
- Forest Road West
- Foxhall Road
- Gregory Boulevard
- Hardy Street
- Hucknall Road
- Leslie Road
- Magdala Road
- Mansfield Road
- Mapperley Road
- Mount Hooton Road
- Noel Street
- Pelham Road
- Premier Road
- Redcliffe Road
- Russell Road
- Sherwood Rise
- Southey Street
- St Andrews Road
- Thorncliffe Road
- Villa Road
- Zulla Road
Final word from SITM…
Whether you’re chasing thrills, introducing freshers to a Nottingham tradition, or simply turning up for the doughnuts, Goose Fair remains one of the city’s most iconic events.
Just remember: what happens on Elevate 85 stays on Elevate 85. Especially if there are photos.
See you in the Dodgem queue. 🎡🍩
