If a fund-raising campaign is successful, there will be more of a carnival like atmosphere at this year's Barnet Christmas Fayre to be held on Sunday 3 December with professional entertainers hopefully welcoming visitors as they walk up and down the High Street.

A gofundme appeal is aiming to raise £3,000 to help pay for specialist performers.

Every year pupils from the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School at The Bull appear in character and add to the gaiety of the event – as at the 2018 fayre (see above), when elves, snowmen and penguins enchanted the crowd.

Ros Staines, stalls organiser for the fair, says that if successful the appeal --   https://gofund.me/9df7b735 -- will help towards meeting the cost of hiring specialist performers such as stilt walkers, street magicians, and acrobats.

The Bull Players will again be in costume in the High Street for this year’s opening ceremony, but the fayre committee hopes to create more of a carnival-like atmosphere.

“This year we would like to add performers to move among the crowds but hiring them isn’t available free of charge.

“Sadly, this is beyond our budget, so we’d like your help in raising the funds not just to hold the event but especially to improve the entertainment provided.

“The event is run on a shoestring, and despite that manages to provide an afternoon of fun.”

Stilt walkers, acrobats and jugglers did add to the fun of fayre in 2015.

The fayre is organised by a team of volunteers and attended every year by thousands of local residents.

It extends all the way up the High Street from The Bull Theatre and Barnet College to the junction with the St Albans Road.

Yet again there will be an array of stalls manned by local organisations, food stalls, displays, dancers, choirs, buskers, a theatre, and the traditional fun fare near the High Street/St Albans Road junction.

Ros Staines said that in addition to old favourites there will be some newcomers: Yinka's Afroeats - African street food and Emmie's Olde Tyme Fudge (28 flavours!) in the High Street, Ceramica Casalina selling handmade pottery in The Spires and House Histories in Tudor Hall at the college where local historian Fiona Rule will be signing and selling her own books.

Once again, near the High Street parking area for the parish church, Barnet Classic Car Club will be showing off some of their wonderful old vehicles and fundraising for Noah's Ark Children's Hospice.

Other attractions, always popular, are the children's funfair rides at the northern end of the High Street and Santa in his grotto at The Bull. Barnet Museum stays open throughout the event.

Last year and in 2021, charities and their supporters raised a total of over £4,000 at the fayre.

“We hope it will be over £5,000 this year,” said Ros.