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Making Memories That Matter: The Hoppings and Its Charity Partnerships
Tuesday 16th June 2026
Tuesday 16th June 2026
For generations, The Hoppings has been about much more than rides, lights and excitement. At its heart, Europe's largest travelling fair has always been about bringing families together and creating special memories.
Every year, before the fair opens to the public, The Hoppings welcomes children's charities and community organisations from across the North East to enjoy an exclusive complimentary ride session. By providing free access to hundreds of rides and attractions, we help ensure that children and families from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances can experience the magic of one of the region's most iconic events.
The complimentary charity ride sessions have become a much-loved tradition, giving charities the opportunity to bring the children and families they support for a special day out before the crowds arrive. From children facing health challenges to those supported by local community groups, care organisations and family charities, the initiative helps create moments of joy for people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience The Hoppings.
One of the charities that takes part is Red Sky Foundation, which invites families affected by heart conditions to enjoy a day away from hospital appointments and medical treatments. Sergio Petrucci from the Red Sky Foundation says ""For many families, the opportunity to spend quality time together, have fun and create happy memories away from the day-to-day stress they are going through is incredibly important. Living with a heart condition can bring constant appointments, uncertainty and challenges, so having the chance to simply enjoy being a family for a few hours means the world to many of the children and parents we support. We are incredibly grateful to The Hoppings and Crow Events for giving our families the opportunity to experience such a special day together."
The Hoppings is proud to support a wide range of charities and organisations every year, all united by a shared goal of bringing smiles to children and families across the North East.
As The Hoppings continues to grow, so too does its commitment to supporting the local community. For the charities and families who join us each year, these sessions provide more than just complimentary rides. They offer laughter, togetherness and memories that will last long after the fair leaves the Town Moor.
"It is our absolute pleasure to welcome local charities and the families they support to enjoy The Hoppings before we open to the public. We know that for many families, days out like this can be difficult to access, so being able to offer complimentary rides and create special memories together is something that means a great deal to us.
"The Hoppings is for everyone, and it's important that as many people as possible have the opportunity to experience the magic of the fair. Seeing children laughing on the rides, spending time with their families and simply enjoying being children is what this initiative is all about. If we can help create memories that families will cherish long after they leave the Town Moor, then we've achieved exactly what we set out to do." Ryan Crow owner of Crow Events
