The 2008 Mid Lent fair will start to arrive in town on Tuesday 26th February, when James Mellors’ rides will start pulling on to the meadows.

Then on Saturday 1st March at around 5.00 pm, the transport will pull in to the Gooch’s Court car park, and Bath Row, with Red lion Square at 6.00 pm. The rides in this area and Sheep Market will return this year after completion of construction work on the Stamford Gateway Project. The remainder of the fair will pull in to Castle Dyke the following morning, followed by Broad Street and Star Lane, at 12 o‘clock midday.

At 7.00 pm on the following Monday, the town crier in full costume will announce the opening ceremony on the front of Billy Crow’s Extreme at the bottom of Castle Dyke in Bath Row. The town mayor then reads the proclamation granting the fair, attended by local civic dignitary's, councilors, and section representatives and chairman of The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain. A tour of the fair is then made by the assembled party to sample some of the rides and stalls.