City firing on all cylinders for first Strawberry Fair in three years
Preparations for Saturday’s Strawberry Fair – the first on Midsummer Common since 2019 – are now in full swing ahead of an expected crowd of 30,000 due to attend.
The largest free music event in the country – with a history going back to the 13th century – is set to kick off at noon and runs until 11pm. The 13 stages include music areas, arts, childrens play areas, shopping zones and lots of ways to get involved including workshops and .
Other than the centre stage there is a full programme for the Cambridge 105 tent which is broadcasting live all day; the Flying Pig stage; Hatters Cafe; Portland Ballroom/Cambuskers; Rebel Love stage; RGB stge; the legendary Scarecrow Corner; Shadynasties and Wigwam.
As part of an uprated focus on recycling this year, the ever-popular Scarecrow Corner is a generator-free zone and will be featuring a solar powered stage and a solar coffee bus.
On Thursday the activity around the site cranked up a gear as teams completed platforms, tents, yurts and marquees. They were accompanied by heightened police activity, with a significantly enhanced number of police vehicles on the streets around the centre of the city. Social media is at fever pitch as it describes the activities, bands, musicians and entertainment on offer.
The fair has been a regular in the city since 1974, with exceptions for lockdowns – when the event was hosted virtually – and in 2010, when it was cancelled due to drunkenness and drug use.
This year the event will include a fundraiser for Ukraine, with details available on Facebook.
“Some Cambridge-based artists/makers are running it,” said a friend of the organisers, Ania Karbownik. “The funds raised will support orphans from Ukraine.
“The fundraiser began as the Sunflower Field project by a fibre felting artist Żenia – also known as the Lady Moth – and, since March, her project has raised nearly £9,000 and supported two charities dedicated to helping Ukrainian Refugees – Our Choice and Happy Kids.”
Also on site this year will be Silent Rebellion, who will be meditating by the wellbeing area at 1pm.
Full programme details here.
Don’t miss our coverage on the day and in next week’s edition of the Cambridge Independent.
