Strawberry Fair facts for kids
Strawberry Fair is a fun festival of music, art, and crafts. It takes place in Cambridge, England. The festival has been held every year since 1974. You can find it on Midsummer Common on the first Saturday in June.
What makes it special? It's completely run by volunteers! These are people from all walks of life. Strawberry Fair is thought to be one of the UK's largest free festivals. It is organized entirely by volunteers and is open to everyone.
The fair has happened every year since 1974. It was cancelled in 2010 due to some rules about permits. In 2020 and 2021, it went online because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. From 2011 to 2019, and again in 2022, about 30,000 people attended. Some stages, like Green Machine, were not there in 2022. This was to help manage the large crowds.
First Aid is usually provided by St John's Ambulance. There is also a welfare tent on site. The fair has a fence around it to help control the crowd. There are also checks at the gates for safety. As of 2022, visitors can bring up to four cans of alcohol per person. Spirits are not allowed.
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What Happens at Strawberry Fair?
The fair offers many exciting things to see and do. In 2011, there was a colorful parade. It was part of a project called 'Carnival Crossroads'. The parade featured amazing costumes and samba bands.
Fun Activities and Areas
There is a Village Green area with traditional community activities. You might see re-enactment displays or a fancy dress pageant. There is also a grand finale event. Other popular spots include:
- The Wigwam Stage
- The Green Area
- The Kids Area
- An acoustic and cabaret bar
- Colonel Maybey's Mechanical Menagerie, a 'steam diesel punk' area
You can also find about 300 stalls selling food and goods. Entry to the fair is always free! In recent years, a free 'film night' has been held the day before. It shows short films made by local people. The fair is very popular with people who enjoy alternative lifestyles.
Music and Art at the Fair
Strawberry Fair is known for its wide range of music. Different types of music are played on several stages. Most of the bands chosen to play are local.
Kids' Entertainment and Creative Fun
Children have their own special area. It is free and enclosed for safety. This area includes:
- Face painters
- A family-friendly café
- A marquee with activities like painting and crafts
- Storytelling and other attractions
An Arts area lets local artists show their work. Visitors can also try new art activities.
Music Stages to Explore
Here are some of the music stages you can find at the fair:
- Supertunes - Plays House and Techno music.
- Portland Ballroom - Features new local musicians. It's named after the Portland Arms bar, which supports the community.
- The Super Shady Nasties - Plays Ska, Punk, Funk, Rock, Alternative, and Drum and Bass. This stage used to be called Wigwam.
- Cambridge 105 Radio - Showcases top local musicians and radio presenters from Cambridge 105 Radio.
- Love Music Hate Racism - Plays Rock, Grime, Punk, and Jazz.
- The Flying Pig - Offers Cajun, Americana, Funk, Blues, Rock and Roll, Folk, Jazz, and Country Art Rock.
- Scarecrow Corner - Plays Anarcho Punk, Psychedelic, Folk, Reggae, and Dance music.
- GreenMachine - Features Electronic, Rave, and Dance music.
- The Cambuskers Showcase - Presents Buskers and Street performers.
- The Kings Head - Plays Electronic Dance Music.
- Rebel Arts Bandstand - Features Punk and Ska music.
- Village Green - Plays Samba and Psychedelic Rock.
How Strawberry Fair is Organized
Strawberry Fair is a huge event that takes a lot of planning. It is run by a group of local people.
The Fair's Main Goal
The main goal of the fair is written in its rules. It says:
- "The Fair aims to be held every year on Midsummer Common in Cambridge. It will be on the first Saturday in June. The fair is for the local community, especially children. It will always have free entry and free entertainment, including music and theatre."
The Volunteer Team
A committee of local people runs the fair. They choose a Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary each year. These people form a Steering Group. Smaller groups also work on specific parts of the fair. These include Programming, Finance and Admin, Policy and Community, and Site. The leaders of these groups report back at monthly meetings. This helps everyone stay updated and approve new ideas.
About 1000 people volunteer their time to make Strawberry Fair happen. This is one of the fair's best qualities. Volunteers include committee members, stewards, and an environment team. There are also area coordinators, stage managers, and backstage staff. Many people work 'behind the scenes' on administration.
Funding the Free Festival
The fair is free because of all these volunteers. Money from stalls helps cover costs like setting up the site. Benefit gigs are held throughout the year to raise money. For example, there's an event called Strawberry Sundae. Local bands that play these gigs often play at the fair too.
Strawberry Fair also organizes the Cambridge Band Competition. This competition has been running since 1984. Heats are held at The Portland Arms music venue. The final takes place at Cambridge Junction. All finalists are invited to play at the fair.
You can also buy Strawberry Fair merchandise. This includes T-shirts, badges, programs, and posters. These are sold at Information Tents on fair days. They are also available at benefit gigs and band competition events.
In 2019, the fair's theme was "Love." In January 2022, the fair's website announced:
Strawberry Fair will be back on 11th June 2022 after the longest break in its history with the theme Love the Planet.
