wonder festival cambridge – New in Cambridge

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

As we pack away the Christmas decorations and Dry January rolls around, there’s a new way to party in the city. “WONDER Take-over: New You and Dry January” is happening on Saturday 26 January at Cambridge University Centre on Granta Place, running from 2pm until late. This sober social is an event for everyone and revolves around good feelings rather than alcohol.

Wonder Take-over Cambridge — Image credit: Charlie Snape

Created by friends Lisa Pollitt and Suzie Young, “WONDER Take-over” reflects a cultural shift and the fact that many people are now more mindful of their drinking habits or are avoiding alcohol for a multitude of reasons. Lisa and Suzie are both busy working mothers. They’re conscious of the choices they make about what goes into their bodies and whilst not teetotal, they both have periods of abstaining from alcohol. “We’ve witnessed unhealthy relationships with alcohol and we want to model something different for our kids,” Lisa tells me.

Inspired by the endorphin high they experienced at a 5 Rhythms dance class, Lisa and Suzie wanted to get that feeling again on a night out but when they couldn’t find an event without alcohol, they decided to set one up themselves from scratch, starting with a day event last July and following up with “Winter WONDER: The Alternative Christmas Party” in December.

So what can you expect from “WONDER Take-over”? A plethora of happenings designed to trigger your happy neurochemicals, raise your oxytocin levels and give you a natural buzz. There’ll be plenty of non-alcoholic drinks and mocktails with a vegan menu served up by Meatless street food van. Daytime workshops include Uplifting Joy Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Gong Bath. The evening kicks off with quick witted comedy from Cambridge Improv Factory, uplifting club classics, disco, house, funk and soul from DJs Paul Darking, MissChivers and Luna Love, immersive theatre sessions and dancefloor massages.

With an enthusiastic fan base of happy partygoers aged from 17 – 74, Lisa and Suzie have plans for more WONDER Festival events in Cambridge and possibly beyond. For details of “WONDER Take-over: New You and Dry January” and to book tickets, check out the website.

www.wonderfestival.co.uk

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

Tag: wonder festival cambridge

What’s on in Cambridge – August 2019