Always held on the first Saturday in December, it’s an important event in the seasonal calendar – bringing many thousands of people to the area, raising the profile of Mill Road, increasing awareness of its many and diverse independent businesses and community groups and generally providing a colourful and fun-filled time for visitors.
With the road closed between East Road and Coleridge Road, visitors to the fair can stroll along the street and see the amazing variety of what is on offer.
Crammed full of independent shops, Mill Road is truly diverse, both in what can be found for sale or to eat and in terms of who is selling or preparing it. Chinese and Korean restaurants and supermarkets, cyber cafés and coffee houses, Indian restaurants, an Italian delicatessen, North African, Adriatic and Turkish restaurants and shops selling organic and locally-produced food and other wares sit alongside antique shops, bookshops, bike shops, a butcher’s, a baker’s and there’s probably even a candlestick-maker!And as well as this variety of shops, the fair hosts a food fair, art show and craft stalls and sees street performers congregate to entertain the public. Musicians, dancers and other artists all gather to perform along the road and in marquees, pubs and clubs. Truly something for everyone!
This year, in the evening, there's a special (free) Independent Cambridge gig at The Salisbury Club - the line-up features four local bands, starting at 7pm.
December 6th is also Small Business Saturday, an initiative that aligns completely with the Winter fair and Mill Road Traders’ Association.
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Image (top): Mill Road Winter Fair brochure - illustration: Sam Motherwell Cover design: Nick Welsh
Image:(bottom): Father Christmas visits Mill Road. Courtesy of Independent Cambridge
Mill Road Winter Fair
C/O The Post Office
100A Mill Road
Cambridge CB1 2BD
Tel: +44 (0)7982 810343
Email: info@millroadwinterfair.org
www.millroadwinterfair.org
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The colourful and informative book, Independent Cambridge, is available from Waterstones, Heffers, many of the independent shops and online at www.independent-cambridge.co.uk
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