What’s on in Cambridge – October 2019

Well here we are, it’s October already and the rhythm of the city is changing again as the students return.  There’s so much happening in Cambridge this month … festivals of film, ideas, craft beer and gin, storytelling, fundraisers for local charities, art exhibitions, Diwali celebrations and lots more.  So do take a look and come back too, as I’ll update this listing through the month.

Autumn colours on Trumpington Street, Cambridge
Autumn colours in Trumpington Street

1 – 12th    8am – 5pm  Illuminating Cambridge Libraries.  Exhibition of Sara Rawlinson’s photographs of College libraries.  Michaelhouse Centre, Trinity Street, CB2.  http://www.sararawlinson.com

1 – 31st    9am – 5pm weekdays.  Black Cantabs: History Makers.  Photography exhibition celebrating 260 years of Cambridge education for black Cambridge students and graduates from the 1700s to the 21st century.  Fitzwilliam College, Storey’s Way, CB3

3 – 27th    The Cambridge Show.  Painting, photography, performance, sculpture and other media from 22 local artists.  Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street.  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

5th    10am – 1pm  Family Saturdays – Brilliant Bats.  Learn loads of bat facts and enjoy bat themed craft ready for Halloween.  Free event.  Botanic Garden, Brookside.  http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

5th    10.30 – 11.15am  Sharing Stories.  A family friendly story telling session with stories from around the world told, read and sung.  Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Free, drop in.  Milton Road Library, CB4.  http://www.friendsofmiltonroadlibrary.org.uk

5th    11am – 1pm  Toy Swap Shop.  Also books (fiction/children) and clothes swap (women/children).  Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington.  http://www.atoyslifeandbeyond.org

5th    2.30pm  Nearly New Sale of pre-loved parent and baby goods.  Sports Centre, Cambridge Regional College, Kings Hedges Road.  http://www.nctcambridge.org

7th    7.30 – 9pm  LATE: Gallery Party.  Celebrate the launch of a new season of programming on the theme of Sensual/Virtual.  Music, cash bar and surprises on the night.  Free event.  Fitzwilliam Museum.  http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

10th    7.30 – 9pm  Miss Jebb revisits Mill Road.  An evening of fact and fiction, drama and poetry as Eglantyne Jebb, founder of Save the Children and author of “Cambridge – A Brief Study in Social Questions (1906), takes us for a walk down Mill Road.  Free event.  Ross Street Community Centre, Ross Street.  http://www.millroadhistory.org.uk

12th    10am  2019 Heffers Classics Forum.  A day of talks from some of the top names in the world of Classics.  The Old Library, Emmanuel College, St Andrew’s Street.  http://www.eventbrite.co.uk

12th    10am – 3pm  The Kenya Youth Project Autumn Fayre.  Stalls, pictures, stationery, handcrafts, nearly new, books, jigsaws, toys, homemade jam and cakes, Kenyan gifts.  Wesley Methodist Church, Christ’s Pieces.  http://www.kenyayouthproject.org.uk

12th    10.30am – 2.30pm  Nearly New and Used Book Sale.  Milton Road Library, CB4

13th    12 noon – 4pm  Studio Sunday.  Artist led workshop for families.  Free, drop in.  Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street.  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

13th    1.15 – 2pm  Lunchtime Concert: Works for piano by female composers.  Diana Brekalo presents music by Lily Boulanger, Fanny Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann and Countess Dora Pejacevic.  Free.  Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street.  http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

13th    7.30pm  Schumann:  Overture – Genoveva, Piano Concerto in A minor, Symphony No 2 in C.  Sinfonia of Cambridge.  West Road Concert Hall.  http://www.sinfoniaofcambridge.org.uk

14 – 27th  Cambridge Festival of Ideas.  Debates, workshops, talks, exhibitions and performances celebrating the arts, humanities and social sciences.  This year’s theme is “Change”.  Free.  http://www.festivalofideas.cam.ac.uk

15th    7pm  Fundraiser Evening for Cam Sight.  Dining and music from CBT.  The Three Horseshoes, Madingley.  http://www.camsight.org.uk

16 – 19th    The 2019 Cambridge Greek Play: Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles.  A modern day interpretation, performed in Ancient Greek with English surtitles.  The tradition of performing a play in Greek every three years at Cambridge University goes back to 1882!  Cambridge Arts Theatre, Peas Hill.  http://www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

16th    7pm  Cafe Sci Cambridge: The ethics of medical data sharing.  Espresso Library, East Road.  FB  @cafescicambridge

17 – 24th    Cambridge Film Festival.  UK premieres of new features, classic retrospectives, insightful documentaries, short films, discovery titles from the global stage, family favourites and several international film festival winners.  http://www.cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk

17 – 20th    Eddington Craft Beer and Gin Festival.  Local craft beers, flavourful gins, live music and food vans.  Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington.  http://www.eventbrite.com

17th    7pm  Cambridge Breast Cancer Appeal Fashion Show.  In aid of Addenbrooke’s Hospital Breast Cancer Appeal.  Grand Arcade.  http://www.cambridgebreastcancerappeal.com

18th    7.30pm  Somersaults.  Propulsive, joyous spontaneous music ranging from swinging free jazz to timbral and textural improvisations.  Unitarian Church, Emmanuel Road.  http://www.wegottickets.com/listencambridge

18 – 19th    7.30pm  Dracula Part 1: Jonathan Harker’s Journal with Martin Prest in the haunting and atmospheric one man show adapted from Bram Stoker’s classic novel.  The Leper Chapel, Newmarket Road.  http://www.ThatsMyCueProductions.com

19th    10am – 4pm  Cambridge Photography Show.  For anyone who is passionate about photography and video.  Free entry.  Guildhall, Market Square.  FB Cambridge Photography Show 2019

19th    10.30 – 11.15am  Sharing Stories.  A family friendly storytelling session with stories from around the world told, read and sung.  Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Free, drop in.  Milton Road Library, CB4.  http://www.friendsofmiltonroadlibrary.org.uk

19th    12 noon – 4pm  WE ARE CAMBRIDGE Family Day.  A fun, interactive day exploring what living in and around Cambridge means to you.  Artist led workshops where you can create artwork inspired by Cambridge, your ideas of home and hopes for the future of the city.  Plus a wildflower seed-bomb workshop inspired by the history and work of Alan Turing.  Free, drop in.  Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street.  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

19th    2 – 5.30pm  Literature Cambridge Study Day: An Introduction to Reading Poetry.  Do you love poetry and would you like to understand it better?  Accessible lectures and a seminar with leading young Cambridge scholars.  Stapleford Granary, CB22.  http://www.literaturecambridge.co.uk/read-poetry

19th    3 – 4pm  Children’s Event: Author Isabel Thomas unlocks the life of Stephen Hawking with storytelling and activities.  Free event.  Heffers, Trinity Street.  http://www.eventbrite.co.uk

19th    7.30pm  Locked Opened!  Stories from the underground railroad told by Sheila Arnold.  Unitarian Church Hall, Emmanuel Road.  http://www.cambridgestorytellers.com

19th    7.30pm  Stargaze.  Adams, Prokofiev and Dove.  Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra.  West Road Concert Hall.  Free pre concert talk at 6.45pm.  http://www.cambridgephilharmonic.com

20th    10am – 4pm  Apple Day.  Apple tasting, identification, cultivation, activities and edibles.  Free Garden seasonal highlight tours, live music, pop up food trucks and craft stalls.  Botanic Garden, Brookside.  http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

20th    10.30am – 4pm  Cambridge Vegan Market.  Food stalls, lifestyle brands, luxury cosmetics, ethical clothing, interesting charities and more.  FB Cambridge Vegan Market

20th    1.15 – 2pm  Lunchtime Concert: Music for harpsichord.  Final concert of the complete Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, recital No. 30, performed by Francis Knights.  Free.  Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street.  http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

20th    7 – 9.45pm  Sakhya Diwali celebrations.  A fundraiser evening of music, Indian food and Bollywood dancing.  All proceeds go to grass-root education and development oriented projects in India.  St Paul’s, Hills Road.  Booking required.  Email tickets.sakhya@gmail.com

20 – 26th    10am – 4pm  Art Exhibition.  Original paintings, drawing, prints and sculptures.  Cambridge Drawing Society.  The Leys School, Fen Causeway.  http://www.cambridgedrawingsociety.org

26th    5 – 9pm  Cambridge Mindful Pub Crawl.  Low and no alcohol drinks at three venues with the first round on Adnams.  Starting at The Castle Inn, Castle Street, CB3.  Tickets from http://www.joinclubsoda.com

27th    12 – 4pm  Studio Sunday.  Artist led workshop for families.  Free, drop in.  Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street.  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

27th    1.15 – 2pm  Lunchtime Concert: Music for piano.  George Harliono performs Chopin’s Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor.  Free. Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street.  http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

28th    7.45pm  Centenary Lecture: Professor Dame Sally C Davies, Master of Trinity College, on being the UK’s Chief Medical Officer.  Free admission, retiring collection.  Wesley Methodist Church, Christ’s Pieces.

29th    7pm  Graphene the new wonder material: But will it change the world?  Fundraising lecture from Professor Sir Colin Humphreys, CBE, FREng, FRS Director of Research Dept of Materials Science and Metallurgy.  In aid of Cam Sight.  Dept of Material Sciences and Metallurgy, Charles Babbage Road, CB3.  http://www.camsight.org.uk

Laxtons Superb apples
Fantastic harvest of Laxton’s Superb apples from our tree this year

 

Coming up in Cambridge …..

 

Cambridge Festival of Ideas logo 2018

The University of Cambridge opens its doors from 15 – 28 October for the 11th annual Festival of Ideas which this year explores the theme of “extremes”.  Celebrating the arts, humanities and social sciences, a packed programme of over 200 events includes talks, exhibitions, films, debates and performances held in galleries, museums and lecture theatres across the city.  There’s something here for everyone, whether your interest lies in politics, history, the arts, literature or music or whether you just want to open your mind to new ideas and to question the status quo.  Most events are free, some need to be booked in advance which you can do through the Festival website.

www.festivalofideas.cam.ac.uk

 

Apples in a box
Image credit:  Will Greenfield

In this season of mist and mellow fruitfulness, don’t miss Apple Day at the stunning forty acre Cambridge University Botanic Garden on 21 October.  It’s a wonderful celebration of all things appley with tastings, advice on cultivation, children’s activities, free guided garden tours and a marquee full of locally produced edibles.  Come hungry as you’ll find a wide choice of refreshments from a variety of food trucks and the Garden Café.  And if you have a mystery apple tree in your garden, you need the apple identification service.  Just bring along a couple of apples with a leaf and stalk attached and who knows, you may bring a lost heritage variety to light!

www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

People apple tasting
Image credit: Will Greenfield
Autumn Botanic Garden
Image credit: Will Greenfield

This post is part of my October “New in Cambridge” column in Velvet magazine.  Read more on http://www.velvetmag.co.uk

What’s on in October

Well, Cambridge feels a little bit different now ….. there’s a nip in the morning air, the evenings are drawing in and the rhythm of the city changes as the students return.  There’s plenty going on and I’ll update this listing through the month so do check back when you can.

Sunny autumn morning on the River Cam
Sunny autumn morning on the River Cam

5th    8pm  Fresher Brass.  A “Meet and Greet” concert with the City of Cambridge Brass Band.  St Giles Church, Castle Street, CB3.  Free entry.

6th    7.30pm  The Fishermen.  Mumford Theatre, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, CB1.  http://www.anglia.ac.uk

7th    10.30am – 4pm  Cambridge Vegan Market.  Guildhall, Market Square.  http://www.vegfest.co.uk

7th   2 – 4pm/5 – 7pm  Cambridge Wine Fair.  Royal Cambridge Hotel, Trumpington Street, CB2.  Meet local independent wine merchants.  http://www.cambridgewinefair.com

8th    7.45pm  Climate Change: A Scientific Update.  Speaker:  Dr Emily Shuckburgh OBE.  Part of the Science meets Faith series.  Wesley Church, Christ’s Pieces, CB1.  Free admission.

15 – 18th  Cambridge Festival of Ideas  http://www.festivalofideas.cam.ac.uk  Read more here

15th    7pm  Oompah Brass.  The Leys School, Fen Causeway, CB2.  http://www.theleys.net/boxoffice

18th    7pm  Cambridge Breast Cancer Appeal Fashion Show.  Grand Arcade, St Andrew’s Street, CB2.  Tickets include welcome drink and canapes.  http://www.cambridgebreastcancerappeal.com  Read more here

19th    8pm  The Choral Pilgrimage 2018.  Music by Cornysh and Britten.  The Sixteen.  St John’s College Chapel.  http://www.thesixteen.com

20th    11am – 4pm  Volunteer for Cambridge.  Free showcase for the diversity of volunteering opportunities in the city with around 90 organisations attending.  Guildhall, Market Square, CB2.  http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/volunteer-for-cambridge

20th   2 – 5.30pm  Understanding King Lear.  Study Day with Literature Cambridge.  Stapleford Granary, Stapleford, CB22.  http://www.literaturecambridge.co.uk/lear/  Read more here

20th    7.30pm  Let there be Light.  Charity concert for CBM UK, the overseas disability charity, showcasing local musicians and voices.  St Paul’s Church, Hills Road, CB2.  http://www.ticketsource.co.uk

21st    10am – 4pm  Apple Day.  Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Brookside, CB2.  http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk  Read more here

22nd    1 – 3pm  The Fitzwilliam Museum.  Disability friendly opening.  A relaxed afternoon aimed at children with sensory sensitivities along with their families, siblings and carers.  Free entry but please book in advance.  Trumpington Street, CB2.  http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

23rd    11am – 5pm Tues – Sun.  Richard Pousette-Dart: Beginnings.  Abstract Expressionist.  This exhibition runs until 6 January 2019.  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

24th    7 – 10pm  Plague Late.   Part of the Cam Lates season.  Get up close and personal with the past and present of the Plague.  Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Downing Street, CB2.  Book in advance.  http://www.museums.cam.ac.uk

24 – 27th    7.30pm plus two matinees at 2.30pm.  West Side Story.  Cambridge Theatre Company.  The Leys School, Fen Causeway, CB2.  http://www.camtheatrecompany.co.uk

25 – 1 Nov    Cambridge Film Festival.  http://www.cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk  Read more here

26th    9.30am – 12.30pm  Kids’ Repair Cafe.  Fixing children’s games and toys.  Arts Picturehouse, St Andrew’s Street, CB2.  http://www.cambridgecarbonfootprint.org  Read more here

26 – 28th    7.30pm  Ghost Stories for Halloween.  The Leper Chapel, Newmarket Road, CB5.  http://www.nunkie.co.uk

28th    1pm  Cambridge Halloween Dog Parade.  Facebook: Cambridge Halloween Dog Parade  Read more here

Autumn colours on Trumpington Street, Cambridge
Autumn colours on Trumpington Street, Cambridge