Castle Hill Open Day is happening on 13 July with free events led by historians, local experts, artists, musicians and dancers. There’s something here for all ages as you explore the art, history and heritage of one of the oldest parts of Cambridge.
A quick history lesson …. Castle Hill was originally an Iron Age hill fort and subsequently the site of the Roman town of Durolipante. The Normans built Cambridge Castle there in 1068 but all that remains of it now is grassy Castle Mound, a rare hill in our flat East Anglian landscape! Climb this and you’ll be rewarded with terrific views of Cambridge.
Image credit: Kettle’s Yard
The packed programme for this year’s Open Day includes
art workshops, talks and music at Kettle’s Yard
a rare chance to explore the former Nuclear Bunker behind Shire Hall
a tour of the New Hall Art Collection which has over 400 works of art by women artists plus you can pick herbs and make tea in Murray Edwards College Garden
a “Museum of Mysteries” trail and a Cabinet of Curiosities family workshop at the Museum of Cambridge
an insight into the area’s history through the biographies of 60 people buried at Histon Road Cemetery
free themed tours of the Castle Hill area
Image credit: Kettle’s Yard
Food-wise, there’ll be plenty of picnic spots. The cafes at Kettle’s Yard, the Museum of Cambridge, St Gile’s Church (cream tea, anyone?!) and the Methodist Church will be open. There’ll be several food trucks, a vegan pop up cafe at Murray Edwards College and an ice cream van.
Image credit: Kettle’s Yard
You’ll find more information and full details of the Open Day schedule on the Kettle’s Yard website.
I love summertime in Cambridge. The May Balls and graduation ceremonies are done now and as the students leave for the summer, the rhythm of the city seems to change. There’s plenty going on, as you will see from this listing which I’ll update as the month unfurls.
Tons of tomatoes at Cambridge Market
1 – 14th Strawberries and Screen. Live screening of BBC coverage from Wimbledon on a giant LED screen between One The Square and The Tamburlaine Hotel. 100 chairs available. Bring your own picnic or buy from food vans (mainly available at lunchtimes). http://www.cambridgebid.co.uk/lovecambridge
3rd 6.15 – 7.15pm Sounds Green. Open air music. Afro Tema, a danceable mix of Senegalese salsa, furious mbalax, afro-rock and some serious roots reggae style music. Botanic Garden. Tickets must be bought in advance online. http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
6 – 7th 11am – 6pm Cambridge Open Studios. Over 350 artists in and around Cambridge open their studio doors to the public. Fine art, photography, pottery, glass making, sculpture, illustration, textiles, jewellery and furniture. http://www.camopenstudios.co.uk Read more about last year’s Open Studios here
6th 10am – 4pm Eco Living Festival Cambridge. Talks, workshops and masterclasses. Lion Yard Shopping Centre. http://www.cambridgeecolivingfestival.uk Read more about Eco Living Festival Cambridge here
6th 2 – 4pm Family First Saturday. Activities and art-making on the theme of “caring for our museum”. Free, drop in event. Fitzwilliam Museum. http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
6th 7.30pm Charity Concert supporting Cambridge Summit on Homelessness. Mawson Road Community Orchestra with classical pieces, a cappella from “Sound Scribblers” and traditional music from Greece, Russia, Romania, Macedonia, Scotland and Ireland plus an Auction of Promises. Tickets on the door. St Paul’s Church, Hills Road. http://www.mrco-cambridge.org.uk
8th onwards Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. Productions performed in College gardens, in full period costume and with live Elizabethan music. http://www.cambridgeshakespeare.com Read more about last year’s Cambridge Shakespeare Festival here
10th 6.15 – 7.15pm Sounds Green. Open air music. Martin Kemp’s Organised Chaos. Swing and jazz standards from 1930s to present. Botanic Garden. Tickets must be bought in advance online. http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
13 – 14th 11am – 6pm Cambridge Open Studios. Over 350 artists in and around Cambridge open their studio doors to the public. Fine art, photography, pottery, glass making, sculpture, illustration, textiles, jewellery and furniture. http://www.camopenstudios.co.uk Read more about last year’s Open Studios here
13 – 21st Cambridge Veg Fest. A city-wide celebration of local and seasonal vegetables, bringing people together to grow, cook, eat and enjoy delicious veg. http://www.cambridgesustainablefood.org
13 – 27th Cambridge Summer Music Festival. Live classical music, focusing this year on music by women composers and music by – and inspired by – J S Bach. www.cambridgesummermusic.com
13th 4.30pm (child friendly) and 7.30pm Music for a summer’s evening. Fairhaven Singers. Strawberries and sparkling wine (included in ticket price) will be served on the banks of the Cam during the interval of the evening performance. Queens’ College Chapel. http://www.fairhavensingers.org.uk
14th 11am and 2pm Science on Sundays: Stop and smell the … pollination! Free, informal 30 minute drop in plant science talk. Botanic Garden. http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
15 – 17th 10am – 5pm Visitor Centre Open Days and Launch of Museum on a Bike. David Parr House, 184 Gwydir Street. Facebook: @davidparrhouse Read more about David Parr House here
17th 6.15 – 7.15pm Sounds Green. Open air music. Truly Medley Deeply. A hybrid of live band, DJ and jukebox producing a huge sound from Motown classics to stadium rock. Botanic Garden. Tickets must be bought in advance online. http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
20 – 21st 11am – 6pm Cambridge Open Studios. Over 350 artists in and around Cambridge open their studio doors to the public. Fine art, photography, pottery, glass making, sculpture, illustration, textiles, jewellery and furniture. http://www.camopenstudios.co.uk Read more about last year’s Open Studios here
21st 9am – 2pm Mill Road Summer Car Boot Sale. Gwydir Street Car Park.
21st 12 – 4pm Studio Sunday. Artist led workshop for families. Free, drop in. Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street. http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk
24th 6.15 – 7.15pm Sounds Green. Open air music. Noga Ritter. Singer-songwriter and band performing Afro grooves and jazz. Botanic Garden. Tickets must be bought in advance online. http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
27 – 28th 11am – 6pm Cambridge Open Studios. Over 350 artists in and around Cambridge open their studio doors to the public. Fine art, photography, pottery, glass making, sculpture, illustration, textiles, jewellery and furniture. http://www.camopenstudios.co.uk Read more about last year’s Open Studios here
31st 6.15 – 7.15pm Sounds Green. Open air music. Singer-pianist Ruth Applin with the Josh Kemp Quartet playing classic jazz, blues and bossa nova. Botanic Garden. Tickets must be bought in advance online. http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
Here’s the What’s On listing for July! It’s an eclectic mix of all sorts of events that come to my attention and I’ll update it through the the month so do check back when you can.
Telephone boxes at Great St Mary’s Church
1st 1pm The Choir of Trinity College. Lunchtime concert, a recital of music from the forthcoming tour to Germany. Trinity College Chapel. Free admission.
2nd – 15th 12 noon – 8pm Strawberries and Screen. Wimbledon coverage from the BBC on an outdoor big screen next to The Tamburlaine Hotel, CB1
2nd 6pm Lord Smith: The State of the Arts. Pre-festival event from Cambridge Summer Music. Old Library, Pembroke College. http://www.cambridgesummermusic.co.uk
4th 6.15pm Sounds Green – Prime Brass. Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Open air live music. http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
7th 9.30am Cambridge Festival of Creative Writing. University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education, Madingley Hall. Talks, seminars, panel discussions and workshops. Tickets from http://www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk
7th 4.30 and 7.30pm Music for a Summer’s Evening. Fairhaven Singers. Dove, Brahms and Parry. Queens’ College Chapel. http://www.fairhavensingers.org.uk
8th 4pm O How Glorious. A celebration of English choral music from Purcell to Finzi and beyond. New Cambridge Singers. Jesus College Chapel. http://www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk
13th 8pm The Gesualdo Six. Pre tour concert. Unaccompanied choral music from the renaissance to the present day. The Round Church. Tickets on the door or from http://www.thegesualdosix.co.uk
14th 5.30pm Summer Choral Concert. Choir of King’s College. Elgar, Bernstein, Vaughan Williams and Dvorak. King’s College Chapel. Tickets from King’s College Visitor Centre.
14th 7.30pm Viva la Musica! Music from Spain with Cambridge Concert Orchestra and Chesterton Choral Society. St George’s Church, Chesterfield Road, CB4. Tickets from ccol@mentha.com
25th onwards Summer at the Museums. Fun family days out for all ages. Making and creating, hands-on history and interactive science. Low cost or free. http://www.museums.cam.ac.uk
25th 6.15pm Sounds Green – Afrosamba. Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Open air live music. http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
26th 6pm Cambridge SEO MeetUp. Network while learning more about SEO. The Bradfield Centre, 184 Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, CB4. Free but you must book through the website at https://optimisey.com
New in Cambridge 