Everything you need to know as Cambridge’s Strawberry Fair returns after cancelled year

The fair returns on Saturday, June 6, to Midsummer Common

A popular festival will return to Cambridge after a year away. Strawberry Fair returns to Midsummer Common on Saturday, June 6, after “significant financial loss” meant it did not go ahead in 2025.

This year’s fair returns with an Area 51 theme to mark the 51st year of the festival. A fair spokesperson said: “The day itself is a packed programme across 10 stages and areas, celebrating a wide range of live music, spoken word, performance and entertainment throughout the day.

“The fair also includes dedicated family-friendly spaces, children’s activities, and a brand area for teenagers, the rec.” We’ve put together everything you need to know about the big day, including road closures and timings.

Where is it and when?

The fair takes place on Midsummer Common, just off Victoria Avenue. It will start with a parade from Christ’s Pieces at 10.30am, before the main site opens at midday.

The festival site will be fenced off, with several staffed entrance points set up. The rest of the common will still be fully accessible. The River Cam towpath will be open as usual, and separate from the fair.

The entrances will be well sign-posted. No queues are expected to get in.

Will there be road closures in place?

During the build (June 1 to June 10)

There will be temporary closures on some paths on Midsummer Common between 8am and 11pm from June 2 until June 10. These closures will not affect the river towpath or the path from Maids Causeway to Walnut Tree Avenue.

They will affect the paths which cross at the lamppost including the path from Maids Causeway to Victoria Avenue and, less frequently, the path between the Fort St George and Victoria Avenue. When the paths are closed neither pedestrians nor cyclists will be able to use them.

During the fair

The Fort St George pub will be fenced outside the fair. The Fort St George Bridge will be open for the duration.

However, there will be no direct access to the fair from the bridge. The public will be directed to use this entrance and entrances on Victoria Avenue via signposts placed at the major junctions onto Chesterton Road.

What can you take in?

Food and drink will be available to buy inside the fair. However, there will be a maximum of four cans of beer or ‘ready to drink’ cocktails per person, or the equivalent amount of wine, that can be brought inside. Spirits cannot be brought to the site.

There will be a strict no glass policy at all entrances to prevent broken glass being left on the common. Challenge 21 will be in operation, with anyone who looks younger than 21 required to show ID to bring alcohol into the site. Anyone without a suitable ID will have their drink confiscated.

Security staff may conduct searches at the entrance to the fair.