fairs and festivals dedicated to food were held in the bullring during the 18th and 19th centuries though william de birmingham had gained permission for a three-day-long ascensiontide fair in 1250 with an additional michaelmas fair taking place by 1400. the most popular fair was the (michaelmas) onion fair which celebrated the harvest of onions. it was held on the last thursday of september in front of st. martin's church. in an article in the illustrated london news published in october 1872 it was noted that dealers and customers of the fair were mainly "the country folk of warwickshire with a few tradesmen of the town and some of the work men's wives for the onion gives a palatable relish to a poor man's dinner or supper". the sale of onions was accompanied by stalls, sideshows and amusements and special excursion trains were run to the event from all over the area but the sale of onions was separated from the amusements in 1875 with the latter moving to aston to later become a large funfair.