Sidbury Fair week is 10th to the 17th September.

Sidbury, just four miles from Sidmouth was granted a charter for a Fair in 1291 by Edward I. The Fair was to be held for three days to cover the Feast of the Virgin Mary in September. The charter was probably granted because Sidbury was already a place of pilgrimage when people came to the church to give alms at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pity. It would, no doubt, have boosted the lives of the villagers where they could sell cattle, etc and garden produce.

The commencement of the Fair was noted by the appearance of gloved hand out of a window in the main street. Although the Charter said there could be merrymaking, no one was to be a nuisance to anyone else.

This gloved hand is also to be seen in the roof of the North transept in the church where there is also a carving of a King's head.

The Fair was discontinued after the Reformation when the Shrine was destroyed. A fair was reinstated in 1820 for the farmers due to their impoverished state when free trade was introduced after the Napoleonic War.

Hot pennies were thrown into the street for the children to collect - a boon for the equally impoverished villagers of the time.

Hot pennies are still thrown today from The Red Lion Inn and the former Royal Oak Inn but now to the children of Sidbury School who look forward to the event every year. Sidbury Fair has grown over the years with local produce and craft stalls, competitions etc and a livestock auction still takes place. Over the years the fair has extended to a whole week of events and gives local clubs and organisations an opportunity to raise funds. The Fair Committee is made up of local residents and is chaired by Sir John Cave of Sidbury Manor.