What’s on in Cambridge – March 2020

As I write this, yet another storm is raging.  Will Spring ever come??  I’d love it to hurry up as I’m attempting to house train a lively 12 week old puppy who definitely doesn’t like going out into the garden in the cold and rain!  Here’s the events listing for March.  As usual, I’ll add to it as the month goes on so do check back and feel free to get in touch through my Contact page if you have an event that you’d like to be included.

Rolo The Cambridge Dachshund
Rolo is ready for the next storm!!

1 – 9th    The Minerva Festival.  A city wide Festival celebrating the music of women and non-binary people.  http://www.minervafestival.org

1st    2.30 – 5pm  Dakshina 2020.  An offering of music and dance from South India.  Samarpana Classical Arts.  Proceeds support Indian classical arts in Cambridge.  Chesterton Sports Centre, Gilbert Road, CB4  http://www.eventbrite.com

2nd    8pm  Cambridge University Symphony Orchestra.  Strauss, Beethoven and Brahms.  West Road Concert Hall.  Tickets on the door or from http://www.cuso.org.uk

3rd    8pm  Continuum.  Gesualdo Responses for Holy Saturday and Reproaches by Stuart Beer.  Trinity College Chapel.  Tickets on the door.

5th    11am – 1pm  George Mallory: from student to mountaineer.  A special one day exhibition exploring George Mallory’s life from his undergraduate days at Magdalene College (1905 – 1909) to his final expedition to Everest in 1924.  Free event. The Old Library, Magdalene College.  http://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/old-library/public-engagement

6th    12.15 – 1pm  Lunchtime Concert: Cadenza.  Cambridge University’s premier A Capella group perform their own arrangements and mash-ups of pop and jazz hits.  Free, all welcome.  Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street.  FB: Lunchtime Concert: Cadenza

6th    8pm  Clare College Music Society and Chapel Choir of Clare College.  Mozart Coronation Mass, Scattergood, Schubert.  West Road Concert Hall.  http://www.adcticketing.com

7th    10am – 1pm  Family Saturdays: Fruity Fun.  Taste delicious and unusual fruits and plant pomegranate seeds that you can grow at home.  Find out about Fairtrade as part of Fairtrade Fortnight 2020.  Drop in, no need to book.  Botanic Garden, Brookside.  http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

7th    2 – 4.30pm  International Women’s Day event.  8 women talking for 15 minutes each on various zoological themes and the stories of many more.  Free, drop in.  Aged 8+.  Museum of Zoology, Downing Street.  https://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/

7th    6 – 7pm  Moving On.  Traditional close harmony and classical music.  Post concert reception and exhibition of watercolour paintings.  The Lucy Cavendish Singers.  Emmanuel United Reformed Church, Trumpington Street.  http://www.lucycavendishsingers.org.uk

7th    8pm  Cambridge University Sinfonia.  Rimsky Korsokov, Borodin, De Falla.  West Road Concert Hall.  http://www.adcticketing.com

8th    12 – 4pm  Studio Sunday.  Get creative with artists and education volunteers in a practical art making workshop.  Free, drop in.  Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street.  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

8th    7.30pm  International Women’s Day Concert.  Closing event of The Minerva Festival, including a performance of the winning piece of the composition competition.  St. Giles’ Church, Castle Street.  http://www.minervafestival.org

8th    8.15pm  Beethoven’s Violin Sonatas plus miniature companion pieces.  Krysia Osostowicz and Daniel Tong.  King’s College Dining Hall.  http://www.adcticketing.com

9 – 22nd    Cambridge Science Festival.  Featuring events from astronomy to zoology.  Everyone is welcome to explore, discuss and discover science through talks, hands-on activities, films and exhibitions.  Free entry.  https://www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk/  PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL EVENTS AT THIS FESTIVAL ARE NOW CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

9th    1pm  Beethoven’s Violin Sonatas plus miniature companion pieces.  Krysia Osostowicz and Daniel Tong.  St John’s Old Divinity School.  http://www.adcticketing.com

9th    7.30pm  Magsoc Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.  Dvorak, Bruch, Schubert.  West Road Concert Hall.  http://www.magsoc.net/tickets

9th    7.45pm  Climate Change: What it means and what we can do about it.  Speaker: Prof Joanna Haigh, CBE, FRS.  Part of the Science meets Faith programme of talks.  Free admission, retiring collection.  Wesley Church, Christ’s Pieces.

10th    7 – 8.30pm  Cafe Sci Cambridge.  Obscure Crops to Save the World.  Free event, non-ticketed.  Espresso Library, East Road.  FB:  Obscure Crops To Save The World

10th    7.30 – 9pm  Talk: Town vs Gown – social divides in Cambridgeshire antiquarian life.  Mill Road History Society.  Ross Street Community Centre, Ross Street.  https://millroadhistory.org.uk/events/

12th    8pm  Beethoven 250.  Coriolan Overture, Piano Concerto No. 3, Symphony No. 2.  St John’s College Chapel.  FB: St John’s College Music Society

13th    8pm  Musical Visions.  Mendelssohn and Dvorak.  Cambridge Graduate Orchestra.  West Road Concert Hall.  http://www.cambridgegraduateorchestra.com

13th    8pm  March.  A selection of marches, fanfares and theme tunes including Copland and Mendelssohn.  The University of Cambridge Concert Band.  St. Giles’ Church, CB3.  Tickets on the door or from uccb.soc.srcf.net

14th    9am – 5.30pm  The Rising Festival 2020.  Celebrating International Women’s Day with interactive workshops, talks, 1-2-1 coaching, networking, performances, open conversations, Happy Hour and more.  St Barnabas Church, Mill Road.  http://www.eventbrite.co.uk  PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

14th    10am – 4pm  Super Science Saturday – The Museum Takeover.  Hands on activities, meet the researchers, discover more about the world of early dinosaurs.  Free family drop in.  Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, Downing Street.  FB: Super Science Saturday – The Museum Takeover

14th    10am – 4.30pm  Murder Will Out: A day of crime, thriller and mystery fiction.  Heffers bring a selection of authors to the city for this day long crime event.  The Old Library, Emmanuel College, St Andrew’s Street.  Tickets from Heffers Bookshop or http://www.eventbrite.co.uk

14th    7.30pm  Earth, Sea and Space.  Back to the Future, Thunder and Lightning Polka, Apollo 13, Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001: A Space Odyssey) and more.  Cambridge Concert Orchestra.  A fundraiser in aid of the Motor Neuron Disease Association (Cambridgeshire branch).  Wesley Methodist Church, Christ’s Pieces, CB1.  Tickets on the door or email cambridge@mndassociation.org or c.i.george@icloud.com

14th    7.30pm  St John’s Voices.  Bach, Howells, Scarlatti.  St John’s College Chapel.  Tickets 01223 300085

14th    7.30pm  Beethoven and Mozart.  Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus.  West Road Concert Hall.  http://www.cambridgephilharmonic.com

14th    7.30pm  Cambs Frocktails.  Meet and get to know other people who sew clothes.  Cocktails, competitions and celebration of all things sewing.  Wear your special me-made outfits.  Clayton Hotel (formerly The Tamburlaine), CB1  https://cambsfrocktails.com/  PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO 17 OCTOBER 2020 DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

15th    11am and 2pm  Science on Sundays: The mechanics of plant development.  Part of a programme of free, informal, monthly drop-in plant science talks, bringing the latest discoveries in plant science to visitors in a 30 minute nutshell.  Botanic Garden, Brookside.  http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

15th    7.30pm  Folk & Blues.  Alistair and Ian Anderson, Black Fen Folk Club.  NCI Club, Holland Street, CB4.  http://www.blackfenfolkclub.com

16 – 27th    Love Cambridge Restaurant Week.  Discover different places to eat as some of the city’s best eateries offer set menus at £5, £10, £15 and £20.  https://www.love-cambridge.com/restaurant-week/

19th    5 – 9pm  LATE: Perceptions of Vision and Taste.  See four exhibitions after hours plus there will be four special events on the night, three of which require pre-booking.  Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street.  https://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/calendar/whatson/late-perceptions-vision-and-taste

19th    7pm  Voces 8 – Choral Dances.  A celebration of choral music inspired by dance.  Palestrina, Victoria, Rachmaninov, Britten.  Trinity College Chapel.  Tickets on the door or from http://www.CambridgeEarlyMusic.org

19th    7pm  A Polar Pint.  An evening of polar science talks over a pint!  Panton Arms, Panton Street.  http://www.pintofscience.co.uk/event/polar-pint-of-science-cambridge

21st    10am – 4.30pm CAMCRAFT Handmade Fair.  40 stalls of gorgeous handmade items.  Free entry.  Guildhall, Market Square

21st    11am – 4.30pm  Cambridge Sustainable Fashion Festival.  Stalls, a big Swish (clothes swap party), a free sewing Repair Cafe, learn how to recycle, reuse and create a capsule wardrobe plus pick up styling tips.  St Barnabas Church, Mill Road.  FB: Cambridge Sustainable Fashion Festival  PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

21st    2 – 5.30pm  Reading “Emma”.  An intensive and exciting Study Day on this Jane Austen novel, with two lectures and a round-table seminar.  Literature Cambridge.  Stapleford Granary, CB22.  https://www.literaturecambridge.co.uk/emma  PLEASE NOTE THIS STUDY DAY HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS AND WILL BE REARRANGED FOR SEPTEMBER 2020 DATE TBC

21st    7 – 9pm  Spring Equinox Mindfulness around the Campfire.  Simple guided meditations, opportunities for reflection, discuss, poetry and games exploring our relationship with the natural world.  Milton Country Park, CB24.  https://mindfulness-of-nature.com/

21st    7.30pm  The Crucifixion, Stainer.  The Leys Choral Society.  The Leys School Chapel, Fen Causeway.  http://www.theleys.net/boxoffice  PLEASE NOTE THIS CONCERT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

21st    8pm  New Cambridge Singers.  Frank Martin Mass for double choir and Pergolesi Stabat Mater.  Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs, Hills Road.  http://www.cambridgelive.org.uk

22nd    12 – 4pm  Studio Sunday.  Get creative with artists and education volunteers in a practical art making workshop.  Free, drop in.  Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street.  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

22nd    7.30pm  A Crowne of sharpest Thorns.  Goodall and Purcell.  Fairhaven Singers.  Trinity College Chapel.  http://www.fairhavensingers.org.uk

25th    7.30pm  The Sixteen’s Choral Pilgrimage 2020.  Allegri’s Miserere.  St John’s College Chapel.  http://www.thesixteen.com

25th    7.30pm  True Stories Told Live.  Cambridge storytellers and a musical turn.  No need to book, just turn up a bit early to get a drink and find a seat.  NCI Club, Holland Street, CB4.  FB: True Stories Told Live Cambridge  PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

27 – 28th    4 – 11pm  Eddington Beer Garden.  A pop up with draft craft beers, gins, spirits, wines and soft drinks, food vans and live music.  Free entry.  Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington, CB3.  You can pre-register at http://www.eventbrite.com

28th    2 – 6pm  Board Games Afternoon.  Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.  £2 per ticket.  Cambridge Central Library, Lion Yard

28th    7.30 – 10.30pm  Stand Up Comedy Night from Big Deal Comedy.  4 comedians and an MC, licensed bar selling alcoholic and soft drinks.  Unit 1-4, The Grafton Centre, CB1.  FB:  Stand Up Comedy Night

29th    2.30 – 4pm  A Musical Afternoon at the University Church.  Haydn, Vivaldi, Boyce. The Academy of Great St Mary’s.  Great St Mary’s Church, Senate House Hill.  FB: A Musical Sunday Afternoon at the University Church

Snowdrops

What’s on in Cambridge – December 2019

So just like that, December is here … the city is looking even more gorgeous than usual with lights twinkling and decorations everywhere.  Read on for details of all types of Christmas music and services, shopping events where you’ll find those perfect handmade presents, seasonal celebrations and activities in our wonderful museums and much more.  I’ll update this listing through the month so do check back and please get in touch if you’d like me to include your event.

The Ivy Cambridge Brasserie
Christmassy vibes at The Ivy Cambridge Brasserie

1st    12 noon – 4pm  Museum Shop Sunday.  Stalls from local suppliers including jewellery, glasswork and pottery.  Mulled wine and mince pies.  Free, drop in.  Museum of Cambridge, Castle Street.  http://www.museumofcambridge.org.uk

1st    12 noon – 4pm  Studio Sunday.  Practical art making workshops, no experience necessary.  Free, drop in.  Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street.  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk

1st    1.15 – 2pm  Cambridge University Instrumental Award Holders – a performance by the very best undergraduate chamber musicians.  Free.  Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street  http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

1st    6.30pm  Winter Cabaret.  A seasonal mix of jazzy, sassy, jingly and soulful songs and music from The Lucy Cavendish Singers.  Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington.  http://www.lucycavendishsingers.org.uk

4th    5 – 8pm  Rowan’s Winter Warmer.  A festive evening where you can buy handmade gifts and cards, commission artwork and get involved in Christmas workshops.  Live music, mulled wine and mince pies.  Free entry.  Rowan, 140 Humberstone Road, CB4 http://www.rowanhumberstone.co.uk

5th    6.30pm  Murder under the Mistletoe.  Heffers’ Christmas Crime Party.  Festive drinks, book buying and readings from crime authors.  10% off purchases on the evening.  Heffers, Trinity Street.  http://www.heffersbookshop.eventbrite.com

6th    7.30pm  A Jazz Suite for Christmas.  Tim Boniface and Polly Gibbons.  St. Paul’s, Hills Road.  http://www.stpaulsartsfest.org

6th    7.30pm  Michaelmas Concert: A Musical Selection Box, to include Tchaikovsky and Gershwin.  The University of Cambridge Concert Band.  St Giles’ Church, CB3.  Tickets on the door.

7th    8.50 – 10.30am  Mill Road History Walk with Cambridge Green Badge Guides.  Meet at the Romsey R on Cavendish Road.  http://www.millroadhistory.org.uk

7th    10am – 1pm  Family Saturday.  Get festive and make all sorts of Christmas decorations using natural materials.  Free.  Botanic Garden, Brookside.  http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

7th    10.30am – 4.30pm  Mill Road Winter Fair.  Live music, local crafts, art, entertainment, food.  Mill Road.  FB Mill Road Winter Fair 2019

7th    11.30am  Bridging Binaries: LGBTQ+ Tour.  Explore the spectrum of identities that exist across time, place and culture in Cambridge collections.   Free.  Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street.  http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

7th    1 – 1.30pm  Come and Sing Carols.  An informal, friendly “come and sing” carolling session for shoppers, friends and visitors.  Great St Mary’s Church, King’s Parade

7th    2 – 4pm  Family First Saturday.  Activities and art making on the theme of festive fun.  Free, drop in.  Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street.  http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

7th    4 – 5pm  Blue Christmas.  A service of jazz and prayer for everyone who doesn’t find the holidays so happy.  Michaelhouse Chapel, Trinity Street

7th    7pm  Messiah by Candlelight.  Eboracum Baroque.  A charity concert in aid of Cancer Research.  Great St Mary’s Church, King’s Parade.  http://www.eboracumbaroque.co.uk

8th    7.30pm  Christmas Orchestral and Choral Concert.  Dvorak, Mendelssohn and Czech Christmas music.  The Academy of Great St Mary’s.  Great St Mary’s Church, King’s Parade.  http://www.adcticketing.com

8th    7.30pm  A Christmas Concert by The King’s Men Cambridge.  Trumpington Parish Church, Grantchester Road, CB2.  http://www.the-kings-men-trumpington.eventbrite.co.uk

8th    7.30pm  Messiah.  Choir of Clare College with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.  Trinity College Chapel.  http://www.adcticketing.com

9th    7.45pm  Brokenness, compassion and identity in rehabilitation after brain injury.  Speaker: Dr Andrew Bateman.  Part of the Science meets Faith series.  Free admission, retiring collection.  Wesley Church, Christ’s Pieces

12th    7.30pm  Music for an English Advent: Gabriel’s Message.  Carols and estampies from medieval England.  Mediva Ensemble.  Emmanuel United Reformed Church, Trumpington Street.  http://www.CambridgeEarlyMusic.org

12th    8pm  A Winter Union.  Five leading lights of the British roots scene present an evening of seasonal songs, new and old.  Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington.  http://www.cambridgelive.org.uk

13th    7.30pm – 2.30am  Reach Up Disco Wonderland with DJ Andy Smith and XL Records founder Nick Halkes.  2648 Bar, Trinity Street.  https://skdl.co/kFnLqa45X0

13 – 14th    7.30pm  A Christmas Carol.  Adapted and performed by Martin Prest in a one man show.  The Leper Chapel, Newmarket Road.  Wrap up warm as the Chapel can be cold!  http://www.adcticketing.com

14th    10.30 – 11.15am  Sharing Stories.  Stories from around the world told, read and sung.  Free, drop in.  Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  http://www.friendsofmiltonroadlibrary.org.uk

14th    3 – 3.30pm amd 4 – 4.30pm  Michaelhouse Candlelit Carols.  Come and sing traditional Christmas carols in the candlelit chapel.  Michaelhouse Chapel, Trinity Street

14th    6 – 11pm  Cambridge African Network Christmas Party.  Food, Santa Claus, music and dancing.  Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington.  http://www.cambridgeafricannetwork.org

15th    10am – 4pm  Victorian Christmas Celebration.  Family friendly Victorian Christmas day with craft activities, music, mince pies and more.  Cambridge Museum of Technology, Cheddars Lane.  http://www.museumoftechnology.com

15th    6.30 – 8pm  Carols by Candlelight, accompanied by Cottenham Brass Band.  Hosted by Cambridge Past, Present and Future.  The Leper Chapel, Newmarket Road.  Free event, donations appreciated.  http://www.cambridgeppf.org

15th    8pm  Music for Advent and Christmas.  Josquin, Howells and carols for audience participation.  Fairhaven Singers.  Trinity College Chapel.  http://www.fairhavensingers.org.uk

18th    1.15 – 2pm  The Food of Christmas Past.  A talk with Ivan Day, Feast & Fast food historian.  Free.  Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street.  http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

19th    7 – 9pm  Mindfulness around a Campfire – Winter Solstice celebration.  Guided meditations, reflections, discussions, poetry, games and toasty pre Christmas treats around a campfire.  Milton Country Park, CB24.  Tickets from clairethompson@mindfulness-of-nature.com

19th    7.30 – 10pm  Light Up EACH Life Cambridge Concert.  We Are Sound and Evelyn Glennie perform a selection of uplifting songs in celebration of the children and families cared for at East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.  Great St Mary’s Church, King’s Parade.  http://www.each.org.uk

20th    10.30am – 12.30pm  GPS Christmas Treasure Hunt.  Track down some special Christmas plants growing in the garden.  A family activity.  Booking essential.  Botanic Garden, Brookside.  http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

20th   7.30pm  Celebrate Christmas with John Rutter and Bach Choir Voices.  Traditional carols and works by John Rutter.  Our Lady and the English Martyrs Catholic Church, Hills Road  http://www.cambridgesummermusic.com

22nd    4 – 5.15pm and 6.30 – 7.45pm  Carols by Candlelight.  A traditional candlelit service of lessons and carols at the University Church.  Arrive early to be sure of a seat.  Great St Mary’s Church, King’s Parade

24th    4 – 5pm  Christmas Eve Crib Service.  Carols, bible stories and an impro Nativity.  For children and their families.  Come as you are or in Nativity fancy dress.  Great St Mary’s Church, King’s Parade

25th    11.15am – 12.15pm  Christmas Day Choral Mattins.  Favourite carols, beautiful music, scripture and story.  Great St Mary’s Church, King’s Parade

Christmas wreath by Feather & Ferns
Christmas wreath by Feather & Ferns