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Community-run market returns for thirteenth year with festive food, music and gifts.
Leigh Curtis
Magdalen Road Christmas Fair returns to St Leonard’s on Saturday 6 December for its thirteenth year.
The road will be closed to provide space for dozens of stalls selling gifts, food and drink. Bricks-and-mortar retailers will also offer food and other wares in front of their shops.
Local acts will play live festive music throughout the afternoon event, which attracts thousands of attendees each year.
St Leonard’s Neighbourhood Association held its first Magdalen Road Christmas Fair in 2011.
It has held the fair every year since except in 2020 because of the pandemic and last year due to bad weather. A creative street festival was held in June this year instead of last year’s event.
St Leonard’s Neighbourhood Association was formed following efforts by local residents to protect Bull Meadow Park from the construction of Western Way, and has been active for half a century.
It promotes community activities and publishes a neighbourhood newsletter which it delivers to 3,200 local addresses every two months.
This year’s Magdalen Road Christmas Fair takes place from 2-6pm on Saturday 6 December 2025.
For more information visit the St Leonard’s Neighbourhood Association website.
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