FOUR street fairs in Oxford’s ‘trendiest shopping street’ have proved so successful they will be back next year.
The fairs in May, July, October, and on Sunday were staged to revive interest in Little Clarendon Street and attracted in total more than 20,000 shoppers.
The latest celebration at the weekend once again attracted thousands of visitors who enjoyed the food stalls and the event’s Christmas theme, tying in with displays at neighbouring St Giles’ Church.
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John Mair, chairman of the Little Clarendon Street Association, has worked with traders throughout the year to create the festivals.
Mayfest is thought to have attracted up to 10,000 people, with the following three festivals bringing in thousands of passers-by.
Mr Mair confirmed the fairs would be back in 2020, adding: “The festivals will be moving on, and could be organised by LSD Promotions, which run the stalls in Gloucester Green.
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“The fairs will probably run from March and may include the newly closed Walton Street.
“Three concerts were well attended on Sunday and up to 4,000 people came.”
Mr Mair said earlier: “The street festivals have been a rip-roaring success this year.
“Thousands have come, and Little Clarendon Street is once more a destination for Oxford shoppers and is firmly back on the up.
“I think footfall is increasing and the street is back on the map where it belongs.”
On Sunday there were 20 street food stalls offering dishes from around the globe including Ethiopian, Spanish, Italian, Caribbean and more.
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At 5pm, a parade set off from Little Clarendon Street for the Oxford Christmas Light Festival and at 5.30pm there was a Choral Contemplation with the Somerville Choir in the Somerville College chapel.
This was followed at 7pm by a performance by The Jericho Singers in the chapel.
All bars, restaurants and sandwich shops stayed open until late.
Mr Mair said: “It went really well - a lovely way to start the countdown to Christmas and a really good community event.”
In the past Little Clarendon Street was known as ‘little trendy street’ and Mr Mair and members of the association have been reminding shoppers of its mix of restaurants, boutiques and independent businesses.
The ‘revival’ association for the street, which runs between Walton Street and Woodstock Road, has raised £3,000 to restore overhead lighting and put up new hanging baskets. Committee members include Somerville and University colleges.
In 2020 there will be an opportunity to expand the street festival into Walton Street as it has been closed to traffic on a trial basis.
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The street linking the city centre with Jericho and north Oxford was initially shut so that resurfacing repairs could be carried out. But the road has not been reopened and council leaders are consulting residents on keeping the street closed for up to 18 months, before it could be closed to traffic on a permanent basis.
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