The fair has become a keenly anticipated highlight of the summer and it's not hard to see why.

For one day a year this normally peaceful and picturesque village bustles with bargain hunters sifting through stalls selling all manner of things from crafts and collectables to bedding plants and bric-a-brac.

This year there will be an even greater emphasis on family entertainment, with fairground rides and lots of traditional village fete games for children of any age to enjoy along with an exhibition of classic cars and a fun dog show.

The village pond will be the venue for demonstrations of model boats, and you can cheer on your own entrants in the annual duck race along the stream that flows in front of the castle mound – which is all that remains of a fortress built by Norman lords after the invasion of 1066.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire will fly over the event at around 3.30pm and a Harrier cockpit will be on display.

Rutland Morris Men will be making a return visit, and there will be other live music to entertain throughout the day.

Refreshments will include beers, barbecue, and home-made cakes in the village hall, where there will also be a Bygone Bytham photographic exhibition. In addition, the two local pubs will be open and local produce will be on sale in Castle Bytham Stores.

The event is organised by volunteers from Castle Bytham and since 1998 it has raised more than £30,000 for local projects, charities and contributed towards the upkeep of St James' Parish Church.

The Fair opens at 10am with bacon butties in the village hall until 11am, and closes with a Songs of Praise in the parish church at 4.30pm. Parking is free at a new much closer site.

For more information, visit www.castlebytham.com or get in touch via midsummerfair@googlemail.com.