The event was cancelled in 2025 due to ‘rapidly rising costs’
A Cambridge festival that’s coming back after a year off is set to have an Area 51 space theme. The Strawberry Fair has been running in Cambridge for 50 years, providing audiences with free musical entertainment.
In 2025 it was cancelled due to “rapidly rising costs”. However, the fair will return to Midsummer Common on June 6 after great fundraising efforts from organisers were able to bring it back.
“We are coming back bigger and stronger,” said Mark Evans, chair of the Strawberry Fair committee. With this year’s fair being the 51st, its theme is based on Area 51. On the alien-inspired theme, Mark said: “Last time it ran it was for 50 years. The next is for 51 so it’s a play on words for Area 51.”
Mark added that people should “expect a lot of aliens and space themes across the site”. He said: “It gives people an excuse to dress up as their favourite sci-fi character.”
While last year was cancelled due to financial struggles, Mark said organisers have been raising money to keep the event going. He said: “There has been lots of fundraising going on with various events. We are looking at how we can sustain it for years to come.”
In the lead up to June 6, Mark added that it has been a “manic” time for volunteers. He said: “I can report that everyone is working flat out. We are working a lot smarter than we have before, and having a year off has given us time to refocus.”
Mark described the Strawberry Fair as a “unique” event. He added: “It’s free to access and it’s for the people of Cambridge. It’s what the people of Cambridge deserve. There’s nothing quite like it. Cambridge should be proud of it and people should enjoy themselves.”
The Strawberry Fair is a volunteer-run festival and is free to attend. Anyone who would like to volunteer or find out more information about the event can visit the fair website.
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