Free music and arts festival returns to Midsummer Common
One of the city’s most popular events, Strawberry Fair returns for a day of music, entertainment and fun every year on the first Saturday of June. Entirely volunteer run, it’s free to attend (though donations are welcome), and has been running for 43 years, attracting some 40,000 visitors annually. A celebration of Cambridge’s lesser seen bohemian side, the frolics begin with the Parade, which begins at midday and heralds the start of the fair. Colourfully-dressed revellers, street performers and musicians meet at Christ’s Pieces, before exuberantly making their way through town and eventually to Midsummer Common, where the fair takes place.
Then, it’s all systems go for a day of feel-good fun at the fair! This year’s theme is Fairy Tales, and as ever, there’s a busy line-up of live music planned across multiple stages. Catch performances from local talent at the Cambridge 105 stage and singer-songwriters at the Buskers Stage, pop into the Portland Ballroom (the festival’s only indoor stage), and be sure to check out the new stage from local pub The Flying Pig. There’s also the Wild Strawberries Poetry and Spoken Word Stage which will be hosting a poetry slam competition, plus the Eastern Bloco acoustic stage, which will showcase alternative artists and host interactive theatre, workshops and activities throughout the day.
On the Village Green, there’s an outside dancefloor, a fancy dress competition, performers, dance displays and lots of music, whilst the Kids Park is a must-visit for families, with bags on offer to keep little ones happy including face painters, storytelling and a messy play area.
There’ll be plenty of food trucks to stave off rumbling bellies too, plus stalls selling clothing, accessories and trinkets.
