Winter event on Parker’s Piece

Consultation open from 16 December 2022 to 31 January 2023, midnight

Background

A winter event, most recently known as ‘The North Pole’, has taken place on Parker’s Piece in Cambridge for several years.

Over the years the city’s winter event has included a range of different seasonal attractions, including an ice rink, fun fair, food market, ice bar and ice slide

Cambridge City Council decided not to continue with the event this winter (2022/23), following the end of the most recent contract, so that it could take the time to review and reconsider what the city’s winter attraction should look like in the future, including its environmental impact, and the impact it has on ground conditions at Parker’s Piece.

Evidence indicates that there is a significant demand for a winter offer in Cambridge, based on previous use and demonstrated by ticket sales and high site attendee numbers. The last operating year, 2021/22, recorded 50,000 skaters and around 200,000 visitors to the site.

About the event

In recent years the winter event’s primary attraction has been an ice skating rink complemented by an ice slide, ice bar, fairground rides, observation wheel and various concessions offering food and drink.

The event not only provides residents with an opportunity of a festive activity but also draws visitors from outside the city who contribute to the wider city economy. 

The winter offer has continually developed over the years. The council is now considering options for what a future winter offer might look like – and we would like to hear your ideas for what Cambridge’s winter attraction should be like in the future.

Have your say

Please submit your views by completing our survey below.

The survey closes at 11.59pm on 31 January 2023

Next steps

Your responses to the survey will be summarised and a report will be produced.

The report will then be presented to a wider audience and a final report will be published before any decisions are made on the scope of the future winter attraction for the city.