Sadly, we have had to cancel the events for Festival Week 2020. Below is a selection of activities you can expect to enjoy when the Festival returns in September 2021.
A map with all the venues can be found on the venues page of our website.
Festival Week is a showcase for Cherry Hinton’s wonderful facilities, activities, clubs and societies. Find out what’s happening in your community and join in with these great events.
What’s on:
- Saturday 11th
- Sunday 12th
- Monday 13th
- Tuesday 14th
- Wednesday 15th
- Thursday 16th
- Friday 17th
- Saturday 18th
Friday 10th September
Date: Friday 10th September
Event: Friday Friends Harvest Lunch
Organised by Cherry Hinton Baptist Church
Venue: Baptist Church Family Centre
Time: 12.45pm–2.30pm
Price: Voluntary donations
Open to all senior citizens. Enjoy a roast / vegetarian dinner and celebrate the harvest with a hymn and a prayer. To book please email admin@ch-bc.org.uk phone: 01223 561139 or put a note through the door of 95 High Street by Wednesday 9th September.
Saturday 11th September
Date: Saturday 11th September
Event: Summer Reading Challenge Certificate and Medals Ceremony
Organised by Cambridgeshire Library Services
Venue: Cherry Hinton Library
Time: 11.15am and 11.45am
Price: FREE by invitation
Medals will be presented by the Mayor of Cambridge. Parents /carers to stay with their children.
Date: Saturday 11th September
Event: Family Badminton and Table Tennis
Venue: Cherry Hinton Village Leisure Centre
Time: 1.00pm–3.00pm
Price: FREE. Booking essential.
Borrow a racquet from the Village Centre or bring your own. For more information call the Village Centre on 01223 576412.
Date: Saturday 11th September
Event: Duck Decorating
Venue: St Andrew’s Church & Church Centre
Time: 3.00pm–5.00pm
Price: £2.50 per duck (includes decorating and race entry)
Buy and dress your duck ready for the Duck Race on Sunday. Prizes for the best decorated duck in each age group will be awarded at the race. Hot and cold drinks and delicious cake will be on sale.
Date: Saturday 11th September
Event: Bellringing
Venue: St Andrew’s Church
Time: 3.00pm–4.30pm
Price: FREE
The Cherry Hinton Bellringers will mark the start of Festival week with a peal at 3pm. Come and listen, then maybe have a go yourself at this traditional British art!
Date: Saturday 11th September
Event: Beer garden
Venue: St Andrew’s Church
Time: 3.00pm–11.00pm
Price: Free entry. Beer, wine & food priced as advertised
Come along to St Andrew’s to enjoy delicious craft beer and quality wine. There will be tables and seating outside for you to enjoy the late summer evening.
Sunday 12th September
Date: Sunday 12th September
Event: Festival CHRA Community Cafe
Organised by Cherry Hinton Residents Association
Venue: Cherry Hinton Library
Time: 10.00am–1.00pm
Price: Small charge for your choice of refreshments
Everyone is welcome to join Mark, Barbara and Stuart at the Cherry Hinton Library Hub (CHUB) for coffee, tea, squash, cake and a friendly chat. The cafe is usually open on the last Sunday of the month.
Date: Sunday 12th September
Event: Duck Race
Organised by 27th Cambridge Scouts
Venue: Spring Head – opposite the Robin Hood Eating Inn
Time: From 1.30pm
Price: Ducks (including race entry) £2.50. If you have a duck from last year, redecorate it and re-enter for only 50p (payable on the day)
Ducks available to purchase at the duck decorating at St Andrew’s Church, Cherry Hinton Library and Cherry Hinton Village Leisure Centre. Decorate your duck at home or at St Andrew’s Church on Saturday 11th.
Come and join in the fun at the annual Cherry Hinton Duck Race with duck races and duck-themed games. Prizes for the best decorated duck in each age category, and fastest ducks on the water. An afternoon of fun for the whole family.
The Cherry Hinton Duck Race is organised by and raises funds for the 27th Cambridge Scouts. Each week, we give young people in Cherry Hinton the opportunity to enjoy fun and adventure while developing the skills they need to succeed, now and in the future.
Event: Festival Family Bingo
Organised by Little Cherries Preschool
Venue: Cherry Hinton Village Centre
Time: 3.00pm–5.00pm
Price: Adults £3, 4–16 year olds £2, 0-3 year olds free
Eyes down for a full house! Bingo for all ages hosted by Little Cherries Preschool. Great prizes to be won! Tickets are available in advance from Little Cherries, by calling 07507 334785, or on the door subject to availability. Refreshments will be available.
Monday 13th September
Date: Monday 13th September
Event: Ol’ Boys Club
Venue: Cherry Hinton Village Leisure Centre
Time: 2.00pm–4.00pm
Price: First session free
Every Monday afternoon, open to all men aged 55 + . Offering a range of activities from board games, cards and talks to more active pursuits such as curling, darts and table tennis. Or maybe you just want to enjoy a coffee and a chat! For more information call the Village Centre on 01223 576412.
See the Ol’ Boys Club in our 2015 video
Date: Monday 13th September
Event: A guided tour around a local allotment
Time: 5.00pm–7.00pm
Price: FREE
A chance to meet experienced allotment owners and to find out about the wide variety of plants that can be grown locally. Limited places only. Early booking is advised. To book and for further details ring 01223 246868.
Date: Monday 13th September
Event: Bat Walk
Organised by The Wildlife Trust BCN
Venue: Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits Nature Reserve, Lime Kiln Road
Time: 7.30pm–9.00pm
Price: £6 per adult, £4 for Wildlife Trust members, under 16s free
Use bat detectors to listen to their calls and learn more about them and their ecology. To book a place please call 01954 713531 or email iain.webb@wildlifebcn.org
Tuesday 14th September
Date: Tuesday 14th September
Event: Messy Play
Organised by Cherry Hinton Baptist Church
Venue: Cherry Hinton Baptist Church Family Centre
Time: 9.15am–11.15am
Price: £1 per child
All carers and preschool children welcome. Free play activities include play dough, sand, water, paint, glue, dried food stuffs, toys, ride-on toys. Followed by drink, biscuits, bible story, songs and rhymes. First session of the year.
Date: Tuesday 14th September
Event: Phoenix Tuesday Club
Venue: St Andrew’s Church Centre
Time: 2.30pm–4.00pm
Price: First session free. Regular price £2
An independent group for older men and women. Drop in to meet other people for conversation, education and friendship. Tea & coffee, and biscuits provided. Call Rosey Feuell 01223 213305 or email roseyleaf@talktalk.net for more information.
Date: Tuesday 14th September
Event: Festival Church Service
Venue: Cherry Hinton Baptist Church
Time: 6.00pm–7.00pm
Price: FREE
At the heart of the Festival: the churches of Cherry Hinton join together to give thanks for our community and pledge to make it even better! Come along and join in. All ages and stages welcome.
Wednesday 15th September
Date: Wednesday 15th September
Event: History Talk
Organised by Cherry Hinton Local History Society
Venue: St Andrew’s Church Centre
Time: 2.30pm–4.00pm
Price: £3 non-members, £2 members. Includes light refreshments
Call 01223 210724 to reserve your place or pay on the door.
Date: Wednesday 15th September
Event: Rhymetime at Cherry Hinton Library
Supported by Cambridgeshire Child and Family Centres
Venue: Cherry Hinton Library
Time: 2.00pm–2.30pm
Price: FREE (no need to book)
Suitable for babies and toddlers from birth to 18 months, their parents and carers. Bring your baby along for the NEW enhanced rhymetime, with support and resources from Cambridgeshire Child and Family Centres. Please ask us about the Bookstart Bear Club.
Date: Wednesday 15th September
Event: Bat Walk
Organised by The Wildlife Trust BCN
Venue: Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits Nature Reserve, Lime Kiln Road
Time: 7.30pm–9.00pm
Price: £6 per adult, £4 for Wildlife Trust members, under 16s free
Use bat detectors to listen to their calls and learn more about them and their ecology. To book a place please call 01954 713531 or email iain.webb@wildlifebcn.org
Date: Wednesday 15th September
Event: Cherry Hinton Community Choir
Organised by Cherry Hinton Baptist Church
Venue: Cherry Hinton Baptist Church
Time: 8.00pm–9.30pm
Price: FREE
No audition and no musical qualifications or singing expertise are
required; just lots of enthusiasm for singing in a variety of genres such as
pop, soul, gospel and musicals. First rehearsal of the year. All welcome.
Thursday 16th September
Date: Thursday 16th September
Event: History Walk
Organised by Cherry Hinton Local History Society
Venue: starts and ends at St. Andrew’s Church Centre
Time: 10am
Price: £3 (£2 for members), includes light refreshments
A walk back through time with local historian Michelle Bullivant. Please ring 01223 210724 to reserve your place (25 places available).
Date: Thursday 16th September
Event: Cherry Hinton Festival Bake Off
Organised by The Friends of the Spinney School
Venue: The Spinney Primary School
Time: 6.30pm–8.00pm
Price: Entrance: 50p for children, £1 for adults
Are you a budding baker? Would you like to show off your skills? Do you enjoy eating cake? Come join us with your cakes and bakes for the Cherry Hinton Festival Bake Off. Bring your baking to enter in the competition or just bring yourself ready to eat some cake! After judging, the entries will be put on sale for everyone to sample.
Categories for entry:
- Cakes & biscuits
- Bread
- Show Stopper – get creative with a Festival theme! This category will include a ‘public vote’ from the audience.
Open to all ages, children and adults. Multiple prizes in each category. All proceeds will go to the Friends of The Spinney School charity. Email Amy Butterworth abutterworthconsulting@gmail.com for more information or just come along on the night with your creations!
Click here for directions the The Spinney School.
Date: Thursday 16th September
Event: An evening with author Jim Kelly
Venue: Cherry Hinton Library
Time: 7.45pm
Price: tbc
Crime Writer Jim Kelly will be talking about his new book ‘The Night Raids’ which is set partly in Cherry Hinton. It’s part of the Cambridge Wartime Mystery series featuring DI Eden Brooke. Jim’s first book, The Water Clock, was shortlisted for the John Creasey Award and he has since won a CWA Dagger in the Library and the New Angle Prize for Literature.
Friday 17th September
Date: Friday 17th September
Event: Chirpy Cherries
Venue: St Andrew’s Church Centre
Time: 9.30am–11.00am
Price: Free
Special Festival session of singing and rhymes for babies, pre-schoolers, and their carers.
Date: Friday 17th September
Event: Young at Heart Club
Venue: Cherry Hinton Village Leisure Centre
Time: 2.00pm–4.00pm
Price: First visit free
Open to all ladies 55+. We offer a range of activities from board games, cards and guest speakers to more active pursuits such as curling, darts and table tennis. Or maybe you just want to enjoy a coffee and a chat! For more information call the Village Centre on 01223 576412.
Date: Friday 17th September
Event: Festival Quiz Night
Organised by Friends of Cherry Hinton St. Andrew
Venue: St Andrew’s Church
Time: from 7.30pm
Price: £5, £4 CHStA members, £3 under 16s
Get your team together (max 6 players). If possible, reserve a table on 01223 210724 or 01223 245949 or just turn up on the night. Bring your own drinks.
Saturday 18th September
Date: Saturday 18th September
Event: 52 Stories
Venue: Cherry Hinton Library
Time: 10.30am–11.15am
Price: FREE
Join a popular children’s author for story time and crafting. Parents and carers to stay with their children.
Date: tbc
Event: Holiday Club Fair and BBQ
Organised by Cherry Hinton Baptist Church
Venue: Colville School Playing Field
Time: 12noon–2.00pm
Price: Entry and activities FREE. BBQ as priced.
All the fun of the fair for children aged 5–11 years accompanied by a responsible adult. Come along whether or not you attended the summer Holiday Bible Club. Activities include tenpin bowling, tin can alley, face painting, tug of war, 5 a side football, parachute games, hook a duck and giant darts. Tuck into hotdogs, burgers and veggie burgers, ice cream, popcorn and squash.
Date: Saturday 19th September
Event: Festival Day
Organised by Cherry Hinton Festival Society
Venue: Recreation Ground, High Street, Cherry Hinton
Time: 11.00am–5.00pm
Price: Entry and activities FREE
Join us for the fabulous, FREE, Festival Day. Including music stage, community performance arena, children’s activities marquee, inflatables, zorbs, facepainting and much, much more!