Across the English coalfields there were local and regional galas, which were a huge family and social event in the mining community. A great family day out, these events were met with a buzz of excitement and feelings of anticipation, a chance to meet friends, listen to the speeches, watch the banner parades, and soak up the sights and sounds of the fairgrounds and shows.
One of the best known Miners Galas is the Durham ‘Big Meeting’ which still takes place on the second Saturday in July. At its peak it attracted more than 300,000 people, which is seven times the population of Durham itself.