The future of Scarborough Fair is to be discussed this evening as organisers invite the public to a special event to help shape its future.
The fair, which was created as a three-year project through central government funding, is now "coming to the end of that three-year period". Organisers state that the fair is "at a turning point".
An open discussion is scheduled for 5:30 PM on 10 July 2025, at the Scarborough Library - Concert Room, and is expected to last 90 minutes. This gathering aims to hear public views and "to give feedback on how you think it is going and what you would like to see and experience from the festivals and events in the future".
Julian Caddy, the Festival Director, emphasised the crucial role of community involvement in the fairs evolution.
"So Scarborough Fair is a three year project that was created through central government funding. We're coming to the end of that three year period already and we want to hear from people about what they wanted to be in the future, and it's not just about whether it should be there, it's what it should be.
What do people want from it? Because it needs to be something that belongs to the people of Scarborough. That's what I've been banging on about for months and for years. there's always people who not like certain things and people who do like certain things, it's an opportunity as well to have feedback from people who have taken part."
Despite the initial funding period concluding, Julian Caddy affirmed a strong commitment to the fairs continuation. He stated unequivocally,
"Mark my words, whatever happens with whatever funding, we'll continue to do events for the Scarborough Fair. We're going to be applying for funding to make things happen, do big things.
But I need to have the critical mass of the public behind it and letters of support, all that kind of thing to help us help us go where we really want and need it to be, because we want to put Scarborough firmly on the cultural map as a place for all of these sort of events and festivals. "
Julian says the aim of tonight's event is to have an open discussion adding:
"The Scarborough Fair is at a turning point and we want to hear your views and to give feedback on how you think it is going and what you would like to see and experience from the festivals and events in the future.
This is an open discussion and we welcome everyone's thoughts. "
The event is at Scarborough Library at 5:30pm.
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