ALTHOUGH there is the Church Fete on Saturday, July 11, followed by the quiz in the evening, the real start to Winkleigh Fair Week is on Sunday, July 12 with the well-dressing by the pre-school children and the official opening ceremony.

This is the crowning of the Fair King and Queen, Slayhne and Becky, both pupils at Winkleigh Primary School. Torrington Silver Band will play and the start of the balloon race, and all in the village square.

The church service will be followed by cream teas served in the Community Centre by Winkleigh Women's Institute. An inter-pub cricket match will be held on the Sports Field, plus a barbecue and a bouncy castle for the children.

Various events go on through the week such as the Sacred Concert, the popular dog show on Tuesday evening at the Sports Centre (this year, from 6.30pm, a car boot sale will be held from 5.30pm).

Thursday brings the village Produce and Culture Show in the village hall in the afternoon and early evening, followed by bingo at 8pm.

On Friday there is the children's treasure hunt and then the Under 11s disco in the primary school. Winkleigh Footpath Group is organising a walk at 6.30pm, which will be back in time to join the pub games in the Seven Stars and Kings Arms. These will include darts and pool competitions. The finals of the skittles competition, held all week, will be then, too.

The week ends on Saturday, July 18, Fair Saturday. From last year's success there will be a Farmers' Market and Rural Skills event in South Street from 10am, which is when the vintage car rally starts in the village square.

At 1.30pm there will be the children's fancy dress parade and competition. Theme this year is Devon Life. Mrs Recycle will be running two workshops for primary school children, at 10am-12noon and between 2-4pm.

All afternoon there will be the Battle of the Bands, the fair ground, Bucking Bronco and bungee slide, with a bouncy castle for the younger children.

Embarrassing Dad will be entertaining, Repto Bug will give a talk on the insects and reptiles he will be bringing for people to meet. The Village Races, the Village Triathlon and the grand draw will take place near the end of the afternoon.

A barbecue will be cooking all day, plus other refreshments. Live music will be played from 6.30pm with Karolina Gergolova, folk musician and her band. From 8pm the Thorvetones from Thorverton will play to end Winkleigh Fair 2009.