cambridge festival of cycling

What’s on in Cambridge – September 2019

September always feels to me like a time of new beginnings and although it’s never easy to get back into top gear after the hazy drift of summer days, the slight nip in the morning air reminds us that it’s time to crack on. There’s lots of fun stuff happening in the city this month, which should help us ease back into routine. I’ll update this listing through the month so do check back and please get in touch if you know of an event that I can add to it.

Acorns on Jesus Green Cambridge — Acorns on Jesus Green

1st – 29th Cambridge Festival of Cycling. A month of events celebrating our city’s cycling culture. Over 20 cycling themed events, including social bike rides, bike maintenance and photography workshops, a film night showing the documentary “Motherload” and the Cargo Carnival. Most events are free or have a minimal charge. http://www.cambridgefestivalofcycling.org

1st 10.30am – 12 noon Walking Tour: Hidden Cambridge and the Museum of Cambridge. http://www.museumofcambridge.org.uk

1st 12 – 4pm Studio Sunday. Artist led workshop for families. Free, drop in. Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street. http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

3rd 7.30pm Shoot for the Moon. Improvised comedy night with the Ministry of Unplanned Occurrences. Pay what you want. Blue Moon Pub, Norfolk Street, CB1

5th 6 – 7.30pm “Mindfulness on the Meadows”. Practise mindfulness of nature and meditation with Claire Thompson. Stourbridge Common. http://www.mindfulness-of-nature.com/workshops-in-around-cambridge

7 – 8th 10am – 5pm Wimpole Autumn Craft and Produce Fair. Crafts, food stalls, live music, beer tent serving local ales, face painting. Wimpole Estate. FB Wimpole Autumn Craft and Produce Fair

7th Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival. In aid of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust. River Cam, Ditton Meadows, Fen Ditton. http://www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk

7th 10am – 1pm Family Saturday. Plants of the Pharoahs. Find out about plants used by the Ancient Egyptians, including plants used to make paper and to help preserve bodies. Free event. Botanic Garden, Brookside. http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

7th 10.30 – 11.15am “Sharing Stories”. A friendly family story telling session with stories from around the world told, read and sung. Free, drop in. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Milton Road Library, CB4. http://www.friendsofmiltonroadlibrary.org.uk

7th 12 – 4.30pm Stourbridge Medieval Fair. Traditional dancing and singing, stalls, crafts and talks. Visit the Chapel (which is shut for most of the year). http://www.cambridgeppf.org/Event/cambridge-medieval-fair

8th 11.30am – 4.30pm Knit for the River. Free, drop in, all ages welcome, no need to book. Museum of Cambridge, Castle Street. http://www.museumofcambridge.org.uk

8th 3 – 5pm Jazz and Brass in the Parks. City of Cambridge Brass Band. Cherry Hinton Hall. http://www.cambridgelive.org.uk

9th 7.45 – 9pm Talk about the history of Cambridge Railway Station by Rob Shorland-Ball. Cambridge Museum of Technology, Pye Building. Tickets £3 on the door. Enter via Cheddars Lane entrance. http://www.museumoftechnology.com

10th (until 9th October) Open Eco Homes. Advice from local householders and experts, householder led tours and low energy home workshops. http://www.openecohomes.org

10th 7.30 – 9pm “Archeology found by the public”. Talk from Mill Road History Society with Dr Helen Geake, well known for being party of Channel 4’s Time Team. Ross Street Community Centre. http://www.millroadhistory.org.uk

11th 6.45 – 9pm Cafe Sci Cambridge: Gut bacteria and human health. Using genomic tools to study gut microbiome to help us understand its role in health and disease. Free, non-ticketed. Espresso Library, East Road. http://www.publicengagement.wellcomegenomecampus.org/cafe-scientifique-cambridge

13 – 14th Open Cambridge. Discover the local history and heritage of Cambridge with special access to places that are normally closed to the public or charge admission. http://www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk

15th 9.30am Bridge the Gap. A charity walk through Cambridge University College grounds. The route is wheelchair and pushchair friendly. Raising funds for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Romsey Mill. http://www.arhc.org.uk/bridge-the-gap.asp

15th 9.30am – 12.30pm An Introduction to Mindfulness of Nature with Claire Thompson. Mindfulness based exercises, meditations, walking, games, discussions and poetry. Trumpington Meadows Nature Reserve. http://www.mindfulness-of-nature.com/workshops-in-around-cambridge

15th 10.30am – 5.30pm Dog Day. Free ice cream for kids with a dog. Gift stalls and more. Benets Cafe, King’s Parade.

15th 12 – 4pm Studio Sunday. Artist led workshop for families. Free, drop in. Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street. http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

15th 3 – 5pm Jazz and Brass in the Parks. The Brass Funkeys. Jesus Green. http://www.cambridgelive.org.uk

16th 6 – 7.30pm “Mindfulness on the Meadows”. Practise mindfulness of nature and meditation with Claire Thompson. Stourbridge Common. http://www.mindfulness-of-nature.com/workshops-in-around-cambridge

17th 5.30 – 7.30pm Circuit Social. A creative evening for 18 – 25 year olds. Make some art, meet new people and discover more about Circuit, the young people’s programme. All welcome, no previous art experience needed. Free, drop in. Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street. http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

17th 7.30pm Poetry in the Pub with John Clegg and Steve Xerri. CB1 Poetry. Blue Moon Pub, Norfolk Street, CB1 http://www.cb1poetry.org.uk

18th 7.30pm True Stories Told Live. NCI Club, Holland Street, CB4. FB True Stories Told Live Cambridge

19th 7.30pm Clara Rackham – her life and achievements. A talk by Professor Mary Joannou (ARU). Milton Road Library, CB4. http://www.friendsofmiltonroadlibrary.org.uk

21st 9 – 10am Day of Peace Meditation. On International Day of Peace, gather for meditations to find inner peace and to cultivate feelings of peace of others in our families, our communities and across the world. White Lotus Meditation. The Bodywise Studio, Gwydir Street. http://www.whitelotusmeditation.co.uk/classesandcourses

21st 10.30 – 11.15am “Sharing Stories”. A friendly family story telling session with stories from around the world told, read and sung. Free, drop in. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Milton Road Library, CB4. http://www.friendsofmiltonroadlibrary.org.uk

21st 10.30am – 4pm Artsfest 2019. A day of workshops in printmaking, life drawing, papercloth, drawing, exploring abstraction, creative writing, expressive lettering and drop in sewing plus an all day cafe. Early booking advised as workshop places are limited. St Paul’s Church, Hills Road. http://www.stpaulsartsfest.org

21st 11am – 5pm Literature Cambridge Study Day: Reading The Waves. An intensive day of lectures and a seminar on Virginia Woolf’s lyrical novel of 1931, with leading scholars. Stapleford Granary, CB22. http://www.literaturecambridge.co.uk/waves

21 – 22nd 10am – 5pm Cambridge Food, Garden and Produce Show. Parker’s Piece. Free entry. Oakleigh Fairs. http://www.oakleighfairs.co.uk

22nd 10.30am – 5pm Milton Country Park Autumn Festival. Seasonal food, craft, activities, music and entertainment for the family. http://www.miltoncountrypark.org/autumnfestival

25th 6 – 9pm Zoology Late: Board Games. Animal inspired board games and bar. Free, no need to book. 18+ Museum of Zoology, Downing Street. http://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk

26th 6 – 9pm LATE: The Greatest Showman. Special screening of The Greatest Showman to complement a new exhibition about Giovanni Belzoni, the 19th century explorer and circus showman. Fitzwilliam Museum. http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

28th 10am – 4pm Worth The Weight Vintage Kilo Sale. Vintage clothing at £15 per kilo. St Paul’s Church, Hills Road. FB Worth The Weight Vintage Kilo Sale – Cambridge

29th 3pm rehearsal, 7.30pm performance. Come and Sing Carmina Burana. Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. West Road Concert Hall. http://www.cambridgephilharmonic.com

29th 10am – 5pm Cambridge Chinese Community Mid-Autumn Festival. Parker’s Piece. http://www.cambridgechinacentre.org

King's College Cambridge — This chestnut tree at King’s College is 160 years old!

CamcycleQuest: A cycling treasure hunt around Cambridge

Now here’s another great analogue summer holiday pursuit ….. Camcycle, which works for better and safer cycling for all ages and abilities in and around Cambridge, has created a new clue-based treasure hunt to encourage us all to get on our bikes, explore our beautiful city and discover, or rediscover, the fun of cycling.

CamcycleQuest Cambridge — Image credit: Camcycle

Starting and finishing at Reality Checkpoint, the famous lamp post on Parker’s Piece, the treasure hunt route takes you in a loop around the city, cycling on quiet roads, through snickets and passageways and along traffic free paths. The entire quest will take about a day to cycle but it can also be cycled in sections.

This is a great way to explore areas of Cambridge that you may not be familiar with, from Chesterton in the east to Eddington in the west. Don’t forget to take photos and post your progress on social media using the hashtag #CamcycleQuest.

Taking part in CamcycleQuest couldn’t be simpler. Firstly, pick up a guide from outlets around town (see the website below for details) or from the Camcycle stall outside the John Lewis cafe on Thursday 8 August. Gather your friends/family/colleagues and follow the route, adding up the answers to all the clues with the CamcycleQuest logo as you go, to come up with a final special CamcycleQuest number. You can submit this number via the website or at the Camcycle Cargo Carnival on 21 September. Correct answers will be entered into a prize draw ….. prizes include a £900 cargo bike e-conversion from Electric Bike Sales and cycling accessories.

For further details or to order a copy of the CamcycleQuest guide online, head to http://www.cambridgefestivalofcycling.org/camcyclequest

http://www.camcycle.org.uk

What’s on in September

Well, now we’re in to those last days of the summer holidays, there’s a distinctly autumnal nip in the air most mornings and a sort of back-to-school feeling, even for those of us who left school many moons ago. Maybe it’s better thought of as a time for new beginnings! Here’s the what’s on listing for September. There’s plenty happening in the city and I’ll update through the month so do check back when you can.

All Saints Garden Cambridge — All Saints Garden

1st 12 – 4.30pm Medieval Fair. Leper Chapel, Newmarket Road CB5. Free event. http://www.cambridgeppf.org

1 – 30th Cambridge Festival of Cycling. Celebrating the city’s cycling culture. http://www.cambridgefestivalofcycling.org Read more here

1 – 2nd Oktoberfest Beer Festival, Jesus Green CB5. http://www.cambridge-oktoberfest.co.uk

1 – 2nd Taste of Anatolia. Films from Turkey. Facebook: tasteofanatolia

8th 9.30am – 2pm Queen Edith’s Share Fair and Skip Day. Wulfstan Way shops, Wulfstan Way CB1. Pop up moneyless market to swap and share clothes, games, books, stories, skills, home grown fruit, veg, flowers and more. http://www.queen-ediths.info/event/8sept2018

8th 10am – 5pm Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival. River Cam, Ditton Meadows, Fen Ditton CB5. http://www.cambridgebid.co.uk/events/dragon-boat-festival Read more here

9th From 8.30am Bridge the Gap. Depart from Parker’s Piece CB1. A circular walk through the gardens of six Cambridge colleges, raising money for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Romsey Mill. http://www.arhc.org.uk/bridge-the-gap.asp Read more here

9th 3 – 5pm Jazz on Jesus Green CB5. The Alley Cats with saxophonist Alan Barnes. Free entry. http://www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/city-events/events/jazz-and-brass-parks

11 – 29th fig-futures. A month of free performances, installations, film screenings and talks. Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street CB3. http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

14 – 15th Open Cambridge. http://www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk

15th 9.30am – 4pm Madingley Hall Local Food Fair, Madingley Hall CB23. Pop up Farmers’ Market showcasing local artisan food and produce. Free entry. http://www.madingleyhall.co.uk/events/local-food-fair

15th 10am – 4pm Cambridge Buddhist Centre Open Day. Tours, talks, meditation sessions and “Human Touch” photography exhibition. 38 Newmarket Road CB5. http://www.cambridgebuddhistcentre.com

15th 10am – 5pm All Saints’ Church, Jesus Lane CB5. Tours, history zone, quiz, textiles talk, organ recital, refreshments. Free admission.

15th 11am – 5pm Reading Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own”. Literature Cambridge study day. Stapleford Granary, Cambridge CB22. http://www.literaturecambridge.co.uk/room-2018 Read more here

15th 1pm Phoenix Vocal Ensemble. Mozart, Faure and Bruckner. Great St Mary’s Church CB2. Free admission.

15th 7.30pm O Quam Gloriosum. Music for the saints by Tomas Luis de Victoria. De Profundis, Cambridge’s all male early music vocal ensemble. Jesus College Chapel CB5. Tickets on the door or from bit.ly/DPSaints

15 – 16th 10am – 5pm Cambridge Food, Garden and Produce Festival. Parker’s Piece CB1. Free entry. http://www.oakleighfairs.co.uk

21 – 29th 10.30am – 5pm Cambridge Original Printmakers Biennale. Pitt Building, Trumpington Street CB2. Free entry. http://www.cambridgeoriginalprintmakers.com Read more here

22nd 1 – 4pm Cambridge Repair Cafe Plus. St Andrew’s, Chesterton CB4 http://www.cambridgecarbonfootprint.org Read more here

22nd 7.30pm The Academy of Great St Mary’s Orchestra. Wagner, Brahms and Dvorak. Great St Mary’s Church CB2. http://www.adcticketing.com

23rd 10.30am – noon Baby and Children’s Market. Nearly new sales of kids’ stuff. Cambridge Regional College CB4. http://www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk

23rd 10.30am – 5pm Milton Country Park Autumn Festival. Milton, Cambridge CB24. http://www.miltoncountrypark.org/autumnfestival PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR 7 OCTOBER DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS

25 – 27th Sorted! Festival. To celebrate the opening of Rising Path. Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Brookside CB2 http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

27 – 30th Inspire Cambridge. Home interest show. Quy Mill Hotel, Cambridge CB25. http://www.inspireshows.co.uk/cambridge.html

28 – 29th LifeLab Celebrate science and join LifeLab investigators in events and activities exploring the latest breakthroughs and discoveries www.camlifelab.co.uk

28 – 30th Cambridge Art Fair. Quy Mill Hotel, Cambridge CB25. http://www.cambridgeartfair.com

30th Open Eco Homes. Ten eco homes in and around Cambridge open for householder led tours. There’s a repeat of this event on 6th October. Free but advance booking is essential. www.openecohomes.org

30th 7.30pm East Anglian Chamber Orchestra. Mozart, Strauss and Sibelius. West Road Concert Hall CB3. http://www.adcticketing.com

Cambridge Festival of Cycling

Cambridge is a city of bicycles … it’s by far the easiest (and greenest!) way to get around and now the city’s cycling culture is being celebrated in the first Cambridge Festival of Cycling, brought to us by Camcycle, with events happening throughout September.

Launching the Festival on 1 September is a social ride from King’s Parade to Eddington. This will be leisurely so think about packing up a picnic and you’ll be able to buy ice cream and coffee from cargo bike traders. Further highlights in a packed schedule include a screening of the Dutch film “Why we cycle”, a family cycling event and the Cargo Carnival. Decorate your bike and join this parade of cyclists on a ride through the city centre, starting and finishing at Lammas Land, showing what you carry on your cargo bike!

Cambridge Festival of Cycling — Image credit: Lucinda Price

And in a look back at the cycling attire of Victorian women, the Cambridge Ladybirds WI and Dr Kat Jungnickel, author of “Bikes and Bloomers” will host a discussion and cycle ride and, this being the WI, there will of course be tea and cake. Other partner organisations are joining in through September with many diverse events so for the full programme, check out the Festival website.

Camcycle started out life as Cambridge Cycling Campaign in 1995. Then, as now, it works for better, safer and more cycling in and around Cambridge and provides a voice for the concerns of Cambridge cyclists. Its campaigning has resulted in more cycle parking on streets and at transport hubs, early start green lights to enable cyclists to clear a crossing before cars and much, much more. Camcycle has also been heavily involved in planning for the “Chisholm Trail”, a proposed new 3.5 kilometre walking and cycling route which will closely follow the railway line and run between Cambridge Station and the new Cambridge North Station.

You can become a member of Camcycle for a modest fee. Not only will you be supporting their work, you’ll receive six newsletters a year, a quarterly magazine, discounts at a large number of bike shops and access to an online discussion forum. The monthly general meetings at the Friend’s Meeting House on Jesus Lane are open to both members and non-members.

Camcycle is a non profit organisation with a very small team at the helm so it always needs and welcomes volunteers to help with a huge variety of tasks through the year, whether it’s working on the magazine, taking photos, organising and marshalling rides or manning the Camcycle stall at events, to name just a few opportunities. For the Festival of Cycling, many volunteer roles are available so whatever your skill set, if you’re keen to offer support in this way, check out the “Volunteer” page on the Festival website.

Camcycle Cambridge

Take a look at the website as there is so much more going on than I have space to write about here. Most events are free and you don’t need to be a Camcycle member to join in the fun, everybody is welcome.

http://www.cambridgefestivalofcycling.org

http://www.camcycle.org.uk

This event takes place at multiple locations in and around the city.