Every year thousands of gipsies and travellers flock to a small market town in Cumbria to showcase their wares and swap notes about life on the road - and now stunning photographs reveal an insider's view of Appleby Fair. Held in Appleby-in-Westmorland, Europe's largest gipsy gathering usually plays host to around 10,000 gipsies and travellers, as well as 20,000 other people for several days of trade, competition and festivities. The fair temporarily transforms the quaint Cumbrian town - which usually has a population of 3,000 - and always takes place at the beginning of June, running from a Thursday to the following Wednesday. During the event hundreds of horses are paraded through a 'flashing lane', part of the River Eden (pictured), and washed in the waters there. Many are also trotted around the town, as it is a good way to show off the animals. The ritual began in the 17th century as a way of washing the horses and making them more presentable for potential buyers Held in Appleby-in-Westmorland, the gathering usually plays host to around 10,000 gipsies and travellers, as well as 20,000 other people for several days of trade, competition and festivities. Photographer Stefy Pocket attended the fair last year, and captured these stunning images The event, which also sees around 1,000 caravans and several hundred horse-drawn vehicles (one is pictured) arrive in the town, is seen as more of a leisure activity now - with many treating it as a traditional family holiday. Horses are paraded through the quaint market town, many attached to carts Hundreds of gipsy and traveller families attend the event, held in early June every year. Many dress up (right) for the fair, which includes several days of trade, competition and festivities. Many of the travellers arrive on bowtop caravans - also known as vardos - which are highly decorative wooden wagons from the British-Romani tradition Dating back to 1775 (though some say it goes back further), Appleby first became a major date on the gipsy calendar in the 1900s. Back then, bare knuckle boxing and horse sales, along with an opportunity to mingle with a who's who of the gipsy community, saw thousands from the UK, Ireland and further afield descend on the town. But now the event, which also sees around 1,000 caravans and several hundred horse-drawn vehicles arrive in the town, is seen as more of a leisure activity - with many treating it as a traditional family holiday. During the event hundreds of horses are paraded through a 'flashing lane', part of the River Eden, and washed in the waters there. Many are also trotted around the town, as it is a good way to show off the animals. The ritual began in the 17th century as a way of washing the horses and making them more presentable for potential buyers - although it is now more often used as a leisure activity. One photographer, Stefy Pocket, captured images of the goings on at the fair when she visited last year, describing her experiences to Huck: 'I’d known about the Appleby fair for years – it’s been around since 1775 – but last year was the first time I got to visit. 'It was amazing: there was so much going on. I was surrounded by incredible faces everywhere – young boys riding cobs around, long-haired girls wearing beautiful outfits, and men dealing horses of all shapes and sizes. 'Everyone was welcoming and charming.' Hundreds of caravans flock to the small market town for the gathering (pictured). It is not organised by anyone specifically, but is rather a spontaneous gathering held in early June every year - although gipsies and travellers do have a Shera Rom (Head Romani) who organises toilets, rubbish skips, horse grazing and more It was a warm summer's day when photographer Stefy Pocket visited Appleby Fair, where hundreds of families had gathered for the annual festivities (left and right). Describing her experiences, she said: 'It was amazing: there was so much going on. I was surrounded by incredible faces everywhere – young boys riding cobs around, long-haired girls wearing beautiful outfits, and men dealing horses of all shapes and sizes' Horses are a large part of the fair, and traditionally many were sold among the gipsy and traveller community. One attendee is pictured right with a horse tattoo on his back, showing the passion the community has for the animals. Others are pulled around the market town in carts (left), and many also arrive in bowtop caravans - an intricately carved, brightly painted, living wagon - complete with chimney The fair is not organised by anyone specifically, but is rather a spontaneous gathering held in early June every year - although gipsies and travellers do have a Shera Rom (Head Romani) who organises toilets, rubbish skips, horse grazing and more. Many of the travellers arrive on bowtop caravans - also known as vardos - which are highly decorative wooden wagons from the British-Romani tradition. The intricately carved, brightly painted, living wagon - complete with chimney - is often used in the summer months by travelling gipsies. The tradition of the vardo is seen as a high cultural point of both artistic design and a masterpiece of woodcrafters art. The heyday of the living wagon lasted for roughly 70 years, from the mid-1800s through the first two decades of the 20th century. Not used for year-around living today, they are shown at the Romanichal (British Romani) horse fairs held throughout the year, including Appleby.All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility