This year, although there will be no funfair, Midsummer Common will host a bustling and varied market, celebrating this tradition of the travelling traders’ fair. There will be a selection of market stalls selling a range of wares including textiles and furnishings; clothing, jewellery and accessories; street food, ice creams and drinks.
There will also be family entertainment, kicking off with plenty of custard pies as the hilarious UK Pie Party perform in their pop-up theatre on Thursday and Friday. This chaotic group of passionate fundraisers travel to festivals and family fun days across Cambridgeshire, encouraging kids to join in the mayhem and throw pies for charity. At Midsummer Fair Market, members of the UK Pie Party will be taking pies in the face to raise money for the Cambridge Cancer Help Centre, and will entertain the crowd with comedy stories and rousing Pie Party songs.
On Sunday, there will be traditional Punch and Judy puppetry performances and storytelling sessions for children. The event, which is provided by Cambridge City Council and organised by Cambridge Live, this year runs from Wednesday 22 to Monday 27 June.
Midsummer Fair Market is part of Cambridge City Council’s year round City Events programme, organised by Cambridge Live. The wide-ranging programme this year also includes The Big Weekend, a weekend of music, entertainment and fireworks which attracts huge crowds to Parker’s Piece, Jazz and Brass in the Parks, a series of free open-air concerts on Jesus Green, Christ’s Pieces and Cherry Hinton Hall, and the Mayor’s Day Out, a great day of entertainment for senior citizens.
Cllr Richard Johnson, Executive Councillor for Community Arts & Recreation, said: “The Midsummer Fair Market celebrates Cambridge's traditions of commerce and craftsmanship, which have always been an integral part of this historic event and are still relevant today. I look forward to visiting the fair and sampling the atmosphere, and hope many come along too. With a variety of stalls and entertainments on offer, there is something for everybody young and old.”
Sara Garnham, Chair of Cambridge Live, said: “It is a pleasure to be working with Cambridge City Council for a second year to deliver the event. We are particularly pleased to be providing great live entertainment for all the family to enjoy, and look forward to welcoming the people of Cambridge to Midsummer Common.”
For more information on Midsummer Fair Market visit: www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/city-events
Cambridge City Council and Cambridge Live
The City Events, which take place in Cambridge during the summer and the rest of the year, are provided by Cambridge City Council and organised by Cambridge Live.
History of Midsummer Fair Market
In 1211, a Royal Charter granted by King John established what had been an informal gathering as an annual event for Cambridge, now in its 805th year. By the early 16th century, it was one of the most important trading fairs in Europe and from the 18th century onwards, family entertainment became part of the event, including singing, dancing and acrobatic shows.
Social media
Twitter: @camcitco and @CambLiveTrust
Facebook: facebook.com/CambridgeLiveTrust
Instagram: CambLiveTrust
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Further information
For more information contact Flo Carr, Press & Marketing Manager, Cambridge Live:
[email protected] | 01223 791765
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