Hästveda fair

The really big event in Hästveda is the yearly fair, which can have up to 100.000 visitors during the two days it is undergoing, the second Wednesday and Thursday in July. The fair starts on Wednesday after lunchtime with a big flea market in the village square. There is no particular place for the fair so the market stalls are set up in the middle of the village. Hundreds of merchants offer everything from groceries, clothes, jewelry and handiwork to toys, shoes and clever miracle paraphernalia which can’t be bought in normal stores. 
During the days of the fair you can also entertain yourself at the funfair with the latest ride attractions. Wednesday evening the party tent with live music usually pulls a crowd and the dance floor gets full fast. 
Hästveda fair is one of the few fairs in Sweden with an old-fashioned animal market. Early in the Thursday morning it starts with horse trading as well as a small animal market with, among other animals, hens and bunnies.
The origin of this goes back to the 1870s, when every Thursday was village square day but four times a year it was “big village square day and animal sales meeting”. 
The market advisors, which is represented by the wrestling club and sports association, are responsible for the arrangement of the traditional family fair. But help is needed from hundreds of volunteers from the other local associations, which have the fair as an important source of income.