No spring fair this year
"The Spring Fair has been called off in its current format for various practical reasons, including security."
The community of Kensington will not celebrate the beginning of spring this year following the cancellation of the annual Kensington Spring Fair.
The termination of the hugely popular event caused a stir within the Kensington community, with speculation running rife as to the possible causes for the cancellation.
According to the I Love Kensington Association’s (ILKA) chairperson, Mr Tony de Munnik, the decision was taken after evaluating the 2014 and 2015 Spring Fairs and not because ILKA has no money to host the fair.
“The Spring Fair has been called off in its current format for various practical reasons, including security for this event which has become an increasing risk,” said Mr de Munnik.
He added that as an organisation, ILKA was required to pay public liability cover to host this event.
“We also have to sign our acceptance of liability for the event and the use of the park. During both the 2014 and 2015 events there were incidents of public abuse of alcohol and misbehaviour,” he said.
In 2015, due to the absence of the JMPD, ILKA committee members became security stewards by default.
This despite having paid for the JMPD to be on duty at the event during the day.
“In addition to this, a disproportionate number of people who attended the fair last year were not local community members,” said Mr de Munnik.
“If our function was to offer community related events that benefit our community, then the fair did not do that,” he said.
Mr de Munnik also said the ILKA committee was working on new events which will be aimed at Kensington residents.
“It is our view that a once a year event does not contribute to revitalising Rhodes Park and we are in the process of developing a more regular calendar of events that will be aimed at Kensington residents. Events which are aimed at attracting all who live in and form part of our community,” said Mr de Munnik.
“These types of events will, in our view, be more inclusive and more entertaining, and will finally embrace the talent that is prevalent in Kensington,” he said.
The annual Kensington Spring Fair was established in 1990 and this year residents would have welcomed in spring though the event for the 26th year.
The Spring Fair was always held on the first Sunday of September at Rhodes Park.
