Stretham Feast of Fun starts Today

The residents of Stretham are gearing up for their Feast weekend, which starts on Friday 13th May with an open mic family picnic and BBQ on the villages Recreation Ground. The whole weekend is packed with activities for the whole community. The theme of the Feast for 2016 is the Queen’s 90th Birthday.
On Saturday 14th May there will be a Farmers Market around the Village Cross starting at 9am. At 10am, St James’ church will host a Christian Aid Coffee morning and Craft Fair.  Children can take part in the Grand Teddy bear Drop from the top of the Church Tower!  Ely and Littleport Riot will be Morris Dancing at the Farmers Market at 11am.
Feast Day on Sunday 15th May starts with an outdoor church service at 12.30pm – weather permitting, followed by a parade at 1pm lead by the Cambridgeshire Caledonian Pipe Band and Fayre on the recreation Ground at 2pm. Stalls and attractions at the Fayre include Rodeo Bull, Bubble Football, fun photo booth, fun fair, hog roast, Pickled Pig cider bar, tug of war competition, fun dog show, crockery smash, dunk tank, performances by the Arco Iris Samba band and the Ely Silver Starlets Majorettes, plus many, many more stalls and activities on site. Many activities are free
The Village Show will be taking place during the Fayre in the Grand Marquee. Categories for the show include sandwich cake with filling, jar of preserves and cupcake decoration for children.
Stretham’s Feast celebrations started in 1877 in order to raise funds for Addenbrookes Hospital, which in those days was dependant on voluntary contributions. This year money being raised during the parade is going to be donated to Pos+Ability which is a local registered charity which supports stroke survivors and those living with Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Muscular Dystrophy. Feast Day is always on the third Sunday in May.
Janet Parish, Chair of the Feast Committee said “We start planning the Feast in December of each year, it’s a big event with up to 2,000 people attending the Sunday Fayre. We are pleased to have so much support from the community for the Feast and try to provide something for everybody. As always we encourage those who have moved away or who have family in the village to come home for the Feast”. 
The Feast is organised and run by a sub-committee of Stretham Parish Council.     For more information about the Feast please go to the Parish Council web page strethampc.org.uk or visit our Stretham Feast Facebook page.