The festival began as a private performance to about 750 people by the British folk rock band Fairport Convention in a village back garden in July 1976.

It became a significant event in the band's history as they played their farewell performance there on 4 August 1979 to around 4,500 people, who were cheered by a promise to continue with annual reunions.

From 2015 onwards, highlights from Fairport Convention's Saturday night set have been uploaded on their official YouTube channel.

[3] The event is organised largely by Gareth Williams, the Festival Director, and also Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg, both members of Fairport.

Fairport's Cropredy Convention is aimed at all ages with an emphasis on families and has developed a reputation as a particularly friendly and safe festival.

[citation needed] As well as a wide range of live music, the event features three dozen stalls selling clothing, books, CDs and food.

It also boasts a very large bar which specialises in cask ale which was formerly provided by Wadworth, a brewery based in Devizes, Wiltshire until 2020.

[5] In recent years, the running times for live music have been 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. on the Thursday and noon until midnight on the Friday and Saturday.

[citation needed] Among many well-known acts appearing in recent years are Robert Plant, Alice Cooper, Lonnie Donegan, Procol Harum, Steeleye Span, Eliza Carthy, Yusuf Islam and Oysterband (see below for others).

On 12 December 2022 it was announced that the festival would be happening on 10, 11 and 12 August 2023 with headliners 10cc on the Friday and other sets by Toyah & Robert Fripp, Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri, Gilbert O’Sullivan and the UK farewell performance from Strawbs.