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!

 

 

 

What’s on in Cambridge – August 2019

Summer is here and there’s lots going on in the city this month.  And take a look at my recent posts for details of some great analogue pursuits and events (most of them low cost or free) to keep the kids occupied for a bit.  Happy summer everybody!!

Portugal Place Cambridge
Portugal Place, looking lovely in the sunshine

1st    5.30 – 7.30pm  Wellbeing in Romsey – an evening of Breathwork and Yoga to celebrate Mill Road Summer.  No experience necessary and no need to book.  Outside Tesco Express, 163 Mill Road  http://www.millroadsummer.org/whats-on/

1 – 4th    Cambridge Folk Festival.  Cherry Hinton Hall Park.  http://www.cambridgelive.org.uk/folk-festival

1 – 24th    Cambridge Shakespeare Festival.  Productions performed in College gardens, in full period costume and with live Elizabethan music.  http://www.cambridgeshakespeare.com

1 – 31st    Summer at the Museums.  Over 140 low cost and free family events in and around Cambridge.  http://www.museums.cam.ac.uk/events/summer

3rd    10am – 1pm  Family Saturday.  The Nightshade Family.  Find out about the Nightshades, one of the most amazing families in the plant kingdom.  Free, drop in.  Botanic Garden.  http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

3rd    2 – 5pm  Come and Sing!  A light, summery programme of song.  All welcome.  St Barnabas Church, Mill Road.  http://www.millroadsummer.org/whats-on/

3rd    7 – 8.15pm  Flute and Guitar Recital.  Charity concert in aid of Romsey Mill, featuring a range of musical styles.  St Philip’s Church, 185 Mill Road.  http://www.millroadsummer.org/whats-on/

4th    9am – 2pm  Mill Road Summer Car Boot Sale.  Gwydir Street Car Park

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

6th    7.30pm  Shoot for the Moon.  Improvised comedy night with The Ministry of Unplanned Occurrences.  Pay what you want.  The Blue Moon Pub, Norfolk Street, CB1

7th    7 – 8pm  Hula Hoop Workshop with Penny Farthing.  Free class for all ages and abilities, no need to book.  Outside Tesco Express, 163 Mill Road.  http://www.millroadsummer.org/whats-on/

10th   3 – 5pm  Folk Music and Storytelling by Serendipity Sessions.  Open mic event.  Come and have a go at storytelling, playing, poetry reading or singing.  Turn up at 3pm to book your slot on the day.  St Barnabas Church, Mill Road.  http://www.millroadsummer.org/whats-on/

10th    3 – 8.30pm  RomseyFest!  Music on Mill Road.  An afternoon of busking, bands and dancing.  Outside Tesco Express, 163 Mill Road.  http://www.millroadsummer.org/whats-on/

10th    8pm  Hamlet.  A solo performance by Richard Spaul.  The Leper Chapel, off Newmarket Road.  http://www.insitutheatre.co.uk

10 – 25th    10am – 6pm/5pm on Sundays  Anglian Potters Cambridge Exhibition.  Handmade ceramics from 60+ local potters.  All Saints’ Church, Jesus Lane.  http://www.anglianpotters.org uk

11th    4.30 – 6.30pm  A Journey to the Centre of the Hive.  A fun and educational workshop taking you through the life of the honey bee colony.  Observation hive, blind honey tasting experience, complimentary tea and coffee.  Dulcedo Patisserie, 60 Hills Road.  Online booking at http://www.beesitter.co.uk

15th    9pm  Queers in Shorts.  An evening of queer-themed short films from around the world.  Free event.  Arts Picturehouse Bar, St Andrew’s Street, CB2  https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/Arts_Picturehouse_Cambridge

17th    1am – 4pm  Making the most of …..  A reuse and recycle event featuring artists, makers, fashion designers and creatives who work with sustainable media.  Interactive activities and varied shopping opportunities.  Organised by local charities the Children’s Society, Arthur Rank Hospice and Romsey Mill.  St Philip’s Church, 185 Mill Road.  http://www.millroadsummer.org/whats-on/

18th    9am – 2pm  Mill Road Summer Car Boot Sale.  Gwydir Street Car Park

18th    12 – 4pm  Studio Sunday.  Artist led workshop for families.  Free, drop in.  Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street.  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

18th    6.30pm  Meditation Taster Session.  Sample two meditation techniques and mindful breathing.  White Lotus Meditation.  The Bodywise Studio, Gwydir Street, Off Mill Road.  http://www.whitelotusmeditation.co.uk

20th    2 – 6pm  Mill Road Bridges: Meet the Artists.  Join local artists to make art and share stories about Mill Road.  Try your hand at origami, printing and clay work.  St Barnabas Church, Mill Road.  http://www.millroadsummer.org/whats-on/

23 – 26th    Movies on the Meadows.  Open air film screenings in the river meadows at Grantchester.  http://www.cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk/news/movies-meadows-2019

24 – 26th    11am – 5pm  Drop in drawing.  Drawing activities for all in the gallery spaces.  Free, drop in.  Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street.  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

24th    7 – 9pm  Soiree with Adam Pounds.  Music, poetry and storytelling, featuring performances of Cajun and other folk styles.  St Philip’s Church, 185 Mill Road.  http://www.millroadsummer.org/whats-on/

25th    3 – 5pm  Jazz and Brass in the Parks.  Caxton Swing.  Jesus Green.  http://www.cambridgelive.org.uk

30th    6pm  Summer Night Market and Open Air Cinema (Early Man/Bohemian Rhapsody).  Free event.  Market Square  http://www.cambridgebid.co.uk/open-air-cinema-night-market

30th    7 – 10.30pm  Legendary: The Big Fantasy Quiz.  Immerse yourself in the epic worlds of Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Disney and much more.  C3 Centre, 2 Brooks Road.  http://www.millroadsummer.org/whats-on/

31st    5 – 11pm  Wonder at the Museum of Technology.  A festival event with life-living workshops, vegan food, SoBar (alcohol free) drinks and DJs.  Museum of Technology, Cheddars Lane, CB5    https://www.wonderfestival.co.uk/

Punting on the River Cam Cambridge
Messing about on the river

What’s on in Cambridge – July 2019

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.

Tomatoes at Cambridge Market
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

4 – 7th    Independents Week.  Celebrating the independent business community in Cambridge with offers and events.  http://www.cambridgebid.co.uk/independents-week-2019

4th    6 – 7.30pm  Open Mic Night for local musicians and poets.  A celebration of music and the spoken word.  Free admission.  Waterstones, Sidney Street.  http://www.waterstones.com/bookshops/cambridge-sidney-str

5 – 7th    The Big Weekend.  Parker’s Piece.  http://www.cambridgelive.org.uk/city-events/events/big-weekend

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 – 1pm  Family Saturdays: Drawing Plants.  Free event.  Botanic Garden.  http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

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

9th    7.30 – 9pm  Talk: Swimming in Cambridge.  Mill Road History Society.  Ross Street Community Centre, CB1.  http://www.millroadhistory.org.uk/events

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

11th    7.30pm  Alex Hitchcock Quintet.  CUC Wine Bar, Granta Place.  http://www.cambridgejazz.org

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    12 – 5pm  Castle Hill Open Day 2019.  Art, music, history, tours, talks and food.  Free event.  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/events/castle-hill-2019

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

21st    3 – 5pm  Jazz and Brass in the Parks.  Soham Comrades.  Nightingale Rec.  http://www.cambridgelive.org.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

25th    6pm  Summer Night Market and Open Air Cinema (Incredible 2/The School of Rock).  Market Square.  Free event.  http://www.cambridgebid.co.uk/open-air-cinema-night-market

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

Sweet peas on my desk
Sweet peas from the garden on my desk