Strawberry Fair celebrates 50 years of kicking off summer in Cambridge
The annual Strawberry Fair will celebrate its 50th anniversary this Saturday (June 1).
Held on the first Saturday in June, the festival attracts thousands of residents and visitors to Midsummer Common.
Strawberry Fair 2024 will feature 11 different performance and entertainment areas, as well as numerous food stalls and outlets selling a range of gifts.
Jazz-funk legends Red Express will be back on stage at Strawberry Fair for the first time in 50 years.
Band member Bill Sharpe recently told the Cambridge Independent: “I think we did nearly the first one, about 1975, 1976 – so it’s a nice story of Red Express, how we basically played all around Cambridge, and we did play Strawberry Fair…
“And then all this time later, we’re going to play it again, which is a great thing to do.
“I’m looking forward to that because it was a lot of fun all those years ago and I think some of us can remember it, just about!”
Strawberry Fair has grown to be the most popular free, entirely-volunteer run, one-day music and arts event in Cambridge, attracting more than 30,000 visitors throughout the day.
Liz Nathan, the committee chairperson for Strawberry Fair 2024, said: “We’re so excited for Saturday, not only are we now in our 50th year, but we are still completely free, entirely volunteer-run and independent, yet have grown so much into something Cambridge can be so proud of.
“With entertainment including the wonderful free kids park, circus areas and featuring over 140 acts, plus over 200 stalls full of amazing items and food from around the world, we’re ready and waiting to invite tens of thousands of people of all ages from the local areas to join us and celebrate the variety of arts and music on offer this year, including Red Express!”
[Read more: Shakatak and Red Express in Cambridge Junction double-header]
For more information on Saturday’s Strawberry Fair, visit strawberry-fair.org.uk.