Mill Road Winter Fair is a celebration of community along one of the most diverse and
vibrant roads in Cambridge. Usually held on the first Saturday of December, the Fair brings
together local businesses and organisations, shops and stallholders, musicians, artists
and dancers in one day of festival joy.
2021: Saturdays, stalls and singing
Ongoing uncertainty over Covid-19 sadly led to the cancellation of the 2021 Mill Road Winter Fair. The Fair was replaced by Mill Road Saturdays – a series of small events held on Donkey Common and Petersfield on 9th October, 6th November and 4th December, from 10.30am to 3.30pm.Featuring craft and charity stalls, buskers and a fabulous ‘street’ of community bunting, Mill Road Saturdays were a celebratory gateway to the diversity of Mill Road. These events were held at Donkey Common (outside Parkside Swimming Pool) and Petersfield opposite, with lines of community bunting at The EDGE Café also marking the Romsey gateway to Mill Road. A closer look at the bunting revealed an I Spy Mill Road trail which encouraged people to explore Mill Road at their leisure, discovering its shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants.
Mill Road Saturdays were organised by Mill Road Fringe, a spin-off from the Fair Committee.
Also, back for another year, is the wonderful online art gallery featuring artworks from local artists, many with a Mill Road connection: Mill Road Art 2021.
The 2020 Fair: Virtually brilliant
In 2020, the Mill Road Winter Fair could not take place due to Covid-19. Instead, we held our first Online Fair featuring many of the local performers, artists, stalls and organisations who would have been there on the day. The Online Fair gave a glimpse of the very special atmosphere of the Mill Road Winter Fair. From awesome local art to fantastic seasonal gifts to purchase, from sensational musical performances to historical talks, plus exciting experiments and craft activities for children.
We also coordinated an amazing community event to celebrate and showcase the identity and culture of Mill Road. Fun for all the family, the Mill Road Lantern Trail was funded by the charity, Love Mill Road.
Ten stunning community lanterns, representing ten local roads, were hung in shops along Mill Road and illuminated from what would have been Fair day, 5th December.
An illustrated trail accompanied the lanterns. It provided fascinating detail about a number of Mill Road’s best-loved buildings through historical Mill Road stories.