Tag: the north pole ice rink cambridge

What’s on in Cambridge – November 2019

So November is here, with bright frosty mornings and leaves crunching under our feet.  As ever, there’s loads going on in the city this month.  Do get in touch if you know of an event that I could add in to this listing and don’t forget to check back every now and again as I will update it through the month.

Gourds at Cambridge Market
Gourds at Cambridge Market

1st    7pm  Cinema under the Whale.  A special screening of the Spielberg classic JAWS, in the dark under the skeleton of a 21 metre whale. Plus a short pre-screening talk on threats to sharks and work to protect them.  Museum of Zoology,  Downing Street.  http://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk

2nd    10am – 1pm   Family Saturday – Feed the Birds.  Help the birds in your garden survive the frosty winter nights by making bird feeders to put out in your garden.  Free event.  Botanic Garden, Brookside.  http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

2nd    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.  Milton Road Library.  http://www.friendsofmiltonroadlibrary.org.uk

2nd    2 – 4pm  Magic and Mystery Family drop in.  Magic crafts, family tours and story telling.  Free.  Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street.  http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

2nd    3.30pm  Autumn Concert.  Cambridge Wind Band.  The Ashburton Hall, St Faith’s School, Trumpington Road.  http://www.camwindband.com

2nd    6.30pm  Even You Song.  Director of Music Owain Park with Cambridge Chorale and school choirs against a backdrop of digital projections and new writing.  An immersive work based on Choral Evensong inspired by space travel.  Trinity College Chapel.  Tickets from http://bit.ly/2YvwxAb

5th    7pm  Firework Display and Bonfire.  Food stalls and fairground open 6 – 10pm.  Midsummer Common.  Free event.  http://www.cambridgelive.org.uk/city-events/bonfire-night

6 – 14th    Cambridge Music Festival.  A programme of classical music with world-class artists, both well known figures and rising stars.  http://www.cambridgemusicfestival.co.uk

6th    7.30pm  Handel Coronation Anthems, Concerto Grosso in B flat major, Op 3 No 2 and Organ Concerto in F Major, Op 4 No 4.  Academy of Ancient Music and Choir of King’s College Cambridge.  King’s College Chapel.  http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/concerts

8 – 9th  Cambridge Oktoberfest.  German beer, food and music in a tent on Jesus Green.  http://www.cambridge-oktoberfest.co.uk

8th    7.30pm  Mike de Souza Trio.  A vibrant young trio performing new, original music drawing on the sounds of contemporary jazz, Radiohead and Deerhoof.  Unitarian Church, Emmanuel Road.  http://www.wegottickets.com/listencambridge

9th    6.30 – 10.30pm  Ceilidh.  Raising funds for Cambridge Street Aid and The Cyriacs,  St Paul’s Church, Hills Road.  http://www.eventbrite.co.uk

9th    7.30pm  Brahms: German Requiem and Cello Sonata in E minor.  New Cambridge Singers.  Little St Mary’s Church, Trumpington Street.  http://www.newcambridgesingers.org.uk

12th    7.30 – 9pm  Changing Landscapes in Romsey Town.  Talk by John McGill for Mill Road History Society.  Ross Street Community Centre.  http://www.millroadhistory.org.uk

13 – 24th   Cambridge International Jazz Festival.  Main events, Fringe events (many of which are free), family events, workshops, talks and films at venues around the city.  http://www.cambridgejazzfestival.info

13th    7.15pm  True Stories Told Live.  Local storytellers and a song.  NCI Club, Holland Street.  FB @cambridgetruestories

16th    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.  Milton Road Library.  http://www.friendsofmiltonroadlibrary.org.uk

16th    2 – 5.30pm  Literature Cambridge Study Day: Understanding “Hamlet”, with Cambridge scholars Adrian Poole and Fred Parker.  Stapleford Granary, CB22.  http://www.literaturecambridge.co.uk/hamlet

16th  North Pole Cambridge Ice Rink opens.  Skate under a transparent roof.  Funfair,  Alpine Cabin themed bar and stalls.  Closes 5.1.20. Parker’s Piece.  http://www.thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk

16 – 17th  11 am – 5pm  Ink, Paper and Print Illustration Fair.  Screenprints, letterpress, hand-made books, lithographs, linocuts and more.  Free admission.  The Guildhall, Market Square.  http://www.inkpaperandprint.co.uk

16 – 17th  10am – 5pm  A handmade Christmas pottery exhibition and sale.  15+ potters, a wide range of ceramics from rustic to refined, free kids’ craft.  Kiln Cambridge, 61 Ditton Walk, CB5.   FB@kilncambridge

22nd – 8 Dec   11am – 4pm Fri – Sun, 5 – 8pm Weds.  Here and How?  An exhibition of artists from the North West, curated by STOCK Gallery.  Motion Sickness Project Space, Petty Cury.  http://www.motion-sick.wixsite.com

23rd    11am – 5pm  Worth the Weight Vintage Kilo Sale.  Vintage clothing from the 60s – 90s.  £15 per kilo.  St. Paul’s, Hills Road.  FB @worththeweightvintage

23rd    7.30pm  Mozart Requiem.  Trinity Singers.  Trinity College Chapel.  Tickets on the door.

23rd    7.30pm  Dance the Night Away.  Brahms, Khachaturian, Offenbach and more.  A concert in aid of Cambridgeshire Lupus Group.  Cambridge Concert Orchestra.  The Church of St John the Evangelist, Hills Road.  Tickets from http://cco.org.uk or http://www.eventbrite.com or on the door

26th    Feast & Fast: The Art of Food in Europe, 1500 – 1800 exhibition opens (running until 26.4.20).  Presents novel approaches to understanding the history and culture of food and eating.  Free entry.  Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street. http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

28 – 30th    12 noon – 7.30pm Thursday/10am – 6.30pm Friday and Saturday.  Cambridge Made Christmas Fair.  Loads of fabulous hand made goodies from local makers.  Free entry.  St. Andrew’s Baptist Church, St. Andrew’s Street.  FB @CambridgeMade

28th    5 – 9pm  LATE: A Feast for your Senses.  See the new Feast & Fast exhibition, join pop up talks, learn more about Christmas food traditions and book for a special screening of Bright Star, a romantic drama about John Keats.  Christmas shopping, live jazz and seasonal treats in the Cafe.  http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

30th    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.  Milton Road Library.  http://www.friendsofmiltonroadlibrary.org.uk

30th   2pm and 3pm  “Mouse’s Night Before Christmas”.  Award winning author Tracey Corderoy reads from her new book.  Festive craft activity.  Tickets £3 in advance, redeemable against a copy of the book when bought on the day.  Heffers, Trinity Street.  http://www.heffers.co.uk/events

Autumn colour in Trumpington Street Cambridge
Autumn colour on Trumpington Street

Christmas in Cambridge

I love this time of year.  Cambridge looks more beautiful than ever with the Christmas lights twinkling as dusk falls and I still get that child-like rush of excitement in the run up to the big day.  And I firmly believe that you’re never too old for a pantomime.  One of my fondest childhood memories is my granny treating us to the panto each year … putting on my best dress, meeting up with my cousins, munching a choc ice in the interval.

Snow White Cambridge Junction
Image credit:  Claire Haigh/WeThreeClub

I’m sure the ice cream selection, if not the jokes, will be a bit more sophisticated at the two pantomimes running in the city this year.  Cambridge Junction brings us Snow White, an original take on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, with magic, music and a very shiny red apple.  Over at Cambridge Arts Theatre, Aladdin is a classic panto with dazzling costumes and spectacular dance routines.  Both productions offer a British Sign Language interpreted performance and a Relaxed performance.

www.junction.co.uk

www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

 

BALLET CENTRAL _NUCRACKER,Stratford Circus Arts Centre
Image credit:  Bill Cooper

Ballet Central are bringing their adaptation of The Nutcracker to the ADC Theatre from 13 – 15 December with performances at 2.30pm, 4.30pm and 6.30pm.  At 45 minutes long, it’s the perfect way to introduce children to this Christmas ballet with its iconic Tchaikovsky score.  Enjoy the fantasy and sparkle as Clara’s dreams come alive and she journeys to the Kingdom of Sweets, meeting her Nutcracker Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy along the way.

www.adctheatre.com

The North Pole ice skating

The North Pole Ice Rink returns to Parker’s Piece for the festive season, with food and drinks available at the cosy undercover Alpine Bar.  I hung up my skates long ago after an unfortunate ice rink incident which resulted in a very bruised coccyx but you’ll find me nursing a hot chocolate, maybe a mulled wine, as I watch my family twirl on the ice.  Or perhaps I’ll sneak off to have a go on the fairground rides!

www.thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk

King's College Cambridge

For me, it wouldn’t be Christmas without some yuletide singing.  Carol services in the city include Carols at Michaelhouse at 3pm and 4pm on 15 December and a traditional Carols by Candlelight at Great St Mary’s on 23 December at 6.30pm.  Possibly the most famous Christmas service of all, The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Chapel, is broadcast to millions around the world on Christmas Eve.  To get your hands on a ticket, go to the College early on Christmas Eve morning with photo ID.  Ticket distribution starts at 7am.  Or grab a mince pie, put your feet up and tune in to BBC Radio 4 for the live transmission at 3pm.

www.kings.cam.ac.uk

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