THE first street festival of the year in Oxford’s ‘trendiest street’ is being planned for Easter.

There will be a two-day Easterfest in Little Clarendon Street on Easter Sunday - April 12 and Easter Monday - April 13.

It’s the latest in a series of street fairs which have attracted thousands of shoppers and visitors to enjoy food stalls set up in the street and live music.

Shops in the area have been supporting the street fairs and enjoying the opportunity to sell their goods in the street itself.

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There were four street fairs throughout the year last year, all designed to remind people to visit shops and restaurants in the area.

Jericho resident John Mair, who came up with the idea for the festivals, said he was looking forward to Easterfest.

Oxford Mail:

The chairman of the Little Clarendon Street Association added: “There will be 50 stalls, plus local shops,bars and restaurants open all day and live music into the night.

“I am delighted to see the return of the festivals to Little Clarendon street for 2020.

“Last year the four festivals attracted about 24,000 people to Oxford’s once ‘little trendy street’ - it put it back on the map.

Oxford Mail:

“Come along and enjoy yourself in your thousands and do use the nearly car free Walton Street to walk there.

“There is plenty of parking available in Jericho itself on the festival days.”

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Mr Mair said the event would this time be run by LSD Promotions, which runs the Gloucester Green market four days a week, in conjunction with the city council.

Last year the Mayfest proved most popular as it took place on a Bank Holiday, attracting an estimated 10,000 visitors.

Street festivals then followed in July, October and November, with the final event of the year given a Christmas theme.

Easterfest is unlikely to be the last street festival planned for 2020 as there are already proposals for a street fair to be staged at the end of May called Whitfest on Sunday May, 24 and Bank Holiday Monday, May 25.

One possibility is staging some events in Walton Street itself including maypole dancing.

Oxford Mail:

The association for the street, which connects Walton Street and Woodstock Road, last year raised £3,000 to restore overhead lighting and put up new hanging baskets.

Committee members include traders and Somerville and University colleges.

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One topic of conversation which could come up at Easterfest is the potential permanent closure of Walton Street, which the county council is consulting on.

Some residents are in favour of the closure, while others, including some businesses, are not.

Restaurants such as Branca have called for the street to be reopened to traffic.