Lazy Saturday is back following fears it could be cancelled

In October, Jericho community organiser John Mair warned that the Lazy Saturday and Lazy Sunday events, which are staged at Mount Place featuring music and food, were in danger of being cancelled.

During the past five years, Mr Mair from Jericho, has organised a series of free Lazy Saturday, Lazy Sunday and Oktoberfest events.

READ MORE: Lazy Saturday could be scrapped

Local bands play and food including hotdogs is provided by local businesses and about 200 people usually turn up.

Mr Mair, aged 75, called for more help in organising the event due to his age, and now it is set to return on Saturday, May 9.

Lazy Saturday (Image: John Mair)

Mr Mair said: “Lazy Saturday is returning to Mount Place, the village square beside the canal.

“It will be there there for families to enjoy from midday.

“There will be music from four local bands, fresh beer from the Little Ox brewery, German sausages from Tom the German sausage man, and stalls selling a variety of Jericho merchandise.

“Come along – it’s free and is open until 6pm.”

Mr Mair added: “I was going to give Lazy Saturdays a 2026 sabbatical but local musicians pleaded with me (to run it) as they really enjoyed playing a community event by the canal – please do come and support them.”

Mr Mair started the events after Oxford City Council revamped Mount Place, and volunteers from the Greening Jericho group “put in some lovely plants”.

“It became a nice communal area for people to use, except they weren’t using it,” he said earlier.

Mr Mair also organises about 30 events a year under the MyJericho umbrella, which also features themed walks in the area, and guest talks at St Barnabas Church.

But he said the Mount Place gatherings “take the most work”.

“I have to submit a health and safety form to the city council, an event plan has to be approved, it costs £120 to put it on, and you have to put a deposit down,” he added.