THE planning for Newent Onion Fayre 2014 is well underway and big ideas are in the pipeline.

The committee, including mascot OnionEd, are meeting regularly above the Market House, in the centre of the town.

Newent Onion Fayre is a large free, one-day event which attracts around 12,000 to 15,000 people to the small market town every year.

This year the fayre is to be held on Saturday September 13 and will have all the old favourites, plus some new features too.

The fayre, which is held through the streets of Newent, will include live music, a food festival, a dog show, and fairground rides.

Perhaps best of all is the world famous onion eating competition and the onion show, the only vegetable show in the country dedicated to the Allium family.

The fayre attracts more than 100 stalls, and applications for 2014 are coming in fast.

The stall application packs are available on the Onion Fayre website which can be found at www.newentonionfayre.net.

Spokesman Charlotte Offord said: “We are looking forward to 2014’s fayre and are currently thinking up what we can do this year, to keep it fresh and different.”

The history of the Onion Fayre goes back to a Royal Charter granted by King Henry III in the 13th Century. It grew in size quickly and attracted local onion traders who did brisk business with the drovers from South Wales.

Continuing over many centuries it was the war years that finally saw its demise when food rationing took its toll. In 1995, the fayre was re-established by a small team of volunteers and has grown from strength-to- strength to the substantial showcase it is today.

Preparations for the event continue throughout the year and is run on a not-for-profit basis.