Events in and around Cambridge in 2023
Cambridge is full of events and activities all year round from January through to the festive period.
If you are staying with Signet Apartments in 2023 then we have highlighted some dates to mark in your calendar. We will be updating this list throughout the year.
January
Meet & Greet with Painter Paul Evans
When: 21st January – 2pm-4pm
Where: Cambridge Contemporary Art, 6 Trinity Street, Cambridge
In 2023 Paul is celebrating his 51st year since starting his career at art college – a half-century of creating and making a living from his painting – which continues to be his complete joy and passion. He has his home and studio near Lavenham, tucked away in the heart of the landscape he loves so much.
The artist will be happy to answer questions about his work and his creative process.
This is a free event.
Chinese New Year Gala
When: 24th January
Where: Cambridge Corn Exchange – CB2 3QE
The Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the beginning of a new year in the traditional Chinese Calendar. Every year, the Chinese Students and Scholars Association in Cambridge (CAM-CSSA) holds the Cambridge Chinese New Year Gala at the Corn Exchange to celebrate this most important traditional Chinese festival with students, scholars, and residents in Cambridge, as well as people from other areas in the UK. The Gala features unique Chinese traditional decorations and breathtaking performances as well as gorgeous stage and sound effects.
Tickets from £15
February
Cambridge’s Craft & Flea
When: Sat 4th February
Where: St. Mary’s Church 11-5pm
Craft + Flea is a new spin on the makers market, bringing together talented, independent makers, designers, producers and collectors, each handpicked for their quality, on-trend products. We don’t define ourselves as a craft market or a flea market but a great mixture of local talent and finds.
Price: £2.50 Entry, Under 12’s Free
Valentine’s Day Afternoon Tea, Cambridge Carriages
When: 14th February
Where: Carriages of Cambridge, Fen Drayton, CB24 4SD
Travel back to the golden age of luxury rail travel and indulge in our delicious range of handmade Afternoon Teas at Carriages of Cambridge.
Carriages is a unique setting perfect for catching up with friends and family, celebrating special occasions or hosting a private party or business event.
From the moment you step into the 1920’s station, you will be transported back to this romantic era with all its luxury and decadence.
Price: Make an enquiry https://www.carriagesofcambridge.co.uk/
March
Thriplow Daffodil Weekend
When: 25 & 26 March 2023
Where: Thriplow
Join us for two days of fun activities for all the family and amble through over 100 stalls to find that something special. Check out the blacksmiths at work in the Smithy and be entertained by the merry Morris dancers. Then recharge at Taste of Thriplow for street food and beer or enjoy hot drinks and homemade cake at our Village Tearooms. With live music being played all around the village it’s the perfect place to get some springtime cheer.
Price: TBC
https://www.thriplowdaffodils.org.uk/
CDS Spring Exhibition
When: Saturday 25 March – Saturday 1st April 10am – 4pm
Where: The Pitt Building, Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1RP
Local professional and amateur artists will be exhibiting over 400 new original works, most of which will be for sale. This major annual exhibition of new original art in the Cambridge area offers visitors the opportunity to view and buy art at affordable prices, across a broad range of genres.
This is a free event.
Cambridge Half Marathon
When: 5th March 9.30am
Where: Jesus Green
The iconic TTP Cambridge Half Marathon will be returning on Sunday 5 March 2023.
The course will once again take runners past a number of historic landmarks, into beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside and into the grounds of two iconic Colleges.
Take a look at https://cambridgehalfmarathon.com/ where you can see where the race will be taking place around Cambridge so you can cheer the runners on or if you want to take part, see if there are any charity space still available.
April
Met Opera Live: Falstaff (2023) (12A)
When: Sat Apr 1, 2023 – 5.30pm
Where: Cambridge Arts Picturehouse
Baritone Michael Volle stars as the caddish knight Falstaff, gleefully tormented by a trio of clever women who deliver his comeuppance, in Verdi’s glorious Shakespearean comedy. Maestro Daniele Rustionitakes the podium to oversee a brilliant ensemble cast that features sopranos Hera Hyesang Park Ailyn Pérez, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano, contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux, tenor Bogdan Volkov, and baritone Christopher Maltman.
Price: Adult: £35, Child £10
Raymond Briggs: A Retrospective
When: 29 April – 29 August 2023
Where: Cambridge University Library
“[To be an illustrator] you have to be a mini actor. If the figure is to walk jauntily with its nose in the air, you have to imagine what that feels like. You have to be the person and observe the person, and do both these things at once.” – Raymond Briggs
Touring from the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, this exhibition highlights a selection of the illustrator Raymond Briggs’ most significant works. It features never-before-seen original illustrations from his studio which reveal his expert draughtsmanship, captivating storytelling and subversive humour.
Free Admission
May
Bank Holiday Ride To Reach Fair
When: Monday 1 May, 2023
Where: Guildhall, Market Square, Cambridge
The Reach Ride is an occasion to take in the stunning views of the open countryside and enjoy the fun of the fair with family, friends or colleagues. Why not come as a group with a theme, a colour, a sound or the logo of your business?
The pace is leisurely, but aims to reach the village of Reach for the opening of the fair at noon. It is open to everyone, and this includes accompanied child cyclists who are able to ride for around 15 miles each way from Cambridge (or 13 miles each way from Ely). Children under 10 and some adults may find the full distance challenging, but you can do a shorter ride by joining at a later point along the route.
You are responsible for your own safe and legal cycling and that of any minors you are accompanying on the ride. Please ensure you follow the Highway Code and that your bike is in suitable condition for the ride. You can join and leave the ride at any time.
This is a free event.
Cambridge Beer Festival
When: 22–27 May
Where: Jesus Green, Cambridge
The Cambridge Beer Festival was first held in 1974 and is the branch’s largest and main beer festival. During its long run, the festival has had several homes but since 2001 has been held on Jesus Green in late May. It is the United Kingdom’s longest running CAMRA beer festival and currently is one of the largest regional beer festivals in the UK.
The festival features a wide range of local and national beers of all styles, as well as cider, perry, mead, wine, and bottled and draft beers from around the world. The cheese counter showcases a wide range of fine cheeses, together with locally produced bread, pork pies, scotch eggs and other savoury items.
This is a free event.
June
Strawberry Fair
When: 3rd June 2023
Where: Jesus Green
Strawberry Fair is a visual and musical extravaganza for all the family, a jamboree for people of all ages.
Strawberry Fair is a feast for music lovers and anyone who wants to participate in Community Arts.
Throughout the Fair, across 12 hours of the day, you can enjoy an eclectic range of music and performances from well over 100 groups, both local and from further afield.
The Fair has community stalls where you can find out what local people are doing to make Cambridge a happy and happening city. And, if you want to get your wallets out, there’s crafts to buy and lots and lots of food to satisfy all tastes and appetites.
This is a free event.
Cambridge Town and Country Fair
When: 10th & 11th June – 10.00am-5.00pm
Where: Stow Estate, Stow Road, Stow Cum Quy, CB25 9AJ
Cambridge Town and Country Fair – This much loved and popular family event takes place in the heart of Cambridge. All day entertainment will include birds of prey flying displays, terrier racing, childrens entertainer, the goat show including bottle feeding lambs and kids, childrens petting pens, historical re-enactment and much much more. Plus demonstrations of rural skills for you to enjoy.
Arts, crafts food drink and gifts marquees as well as outside trade stands.
Fully catered and with a licensed bar.
Free Admission
Intimate Engagements concert: Fair Oriana
When: Sat 24th June 2023
Where: Clare Hall, University of Cambridge
Fair Oriana are a soprano duo known for the purity and blend of their voices. They specialise in singing an historical repertoire, in collaboration with regular teams of instrumentalists, performing chamber concerts with a hint of theatre. Couperin’s Leçons de Ténèbres are composed of three pieces to be performed for the liturgies of Holy Week. Each Latin verse, from the Book of Lamentations of Jeremiah, is preceded by a melisma on the first letter of the Hebrew text. The first two were composed for one single voice, while the third was written for two voices. This last Leçon, where the two voices perform superb appoggiatura, ornaments, dissonances and vocalising, is considered one of the undisputed peaks of Baroque vocal music. The songs by Purcell and Handel are well known and present a lighter, more secular side to the evening’s programme.
General Admission: £20
July
Fitzwilliam String Quartet concert
When: Sat 1st July 2023
Where: Clare Hall, University of Cambridge
he Fitzwilliam String Quartet is Clare Hall’s quartet-in-residence, and is today one of the longest-established string quartets in the world.
Founded in 1968 by four Cambridge undergraduates, the group quickly achieved international recognition as a result of its members’ personal friendship with Dmitri Shostakovich and their subsequent championing of his string quartets.
‘The playing of the music was absolutely immaculate, with its subtle feeling of style and deep penetration into its content. The intensity with which they played shone through, and musicians and audience alike were caught up in a common extravaganza.’ – Alexander Kantorov, St Petersburg Times
£20 General Admission
Evening Networking: Cambridge Business and Professional Club
When: 20th July 2023
Where: Town & Gown, Cambridge CB2 3PF
The CBPC is the original business club in Cambridge, meeting regularly since 1950, and it currently has over 140 members. This is an informal evening of networking [drinks are entirely optional!] from 6pm at the The Town & Gown in Cambridge.
Whilst the events are free – and we welcome you to just pop along, even at the very last minute – we [and the Town & Gown!] would appreciate you reserving a ticket so we have an idea of how many people are attending the event.
August
Cambridge Rock Festival
When: 3rd-6th August 2023
Where: Horseheath Lodge, Horseheath, Cambridgeshire. CB21 4PT
Cambridge Rock Festival is run by volunteer music fans for music fans, with a great friendly, non-corporate vibe! 2022 showcased 67 acts appearing over four days on three stages in Cambridgeshire.
The festival arena opens at 5pm on Thursday 3rd August 2023 and ends at 11pm on Sunday 6th August 2023. Music is played on stage from 5.30pm until 11pm on Thursday, and from 11am to 11pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
General Admission: £20
Cambridge Country Show
When: 6th & 7th August – 10.00am – 5.00pm
Where: Stow Park, Stow Cum Quay
Located at Stow Park, Stow Cum Quay. The Cambridge Country Show is the event with something for everybody. Come along and see the fabulous demonstrations taking place in the main and countryside rings including a full programme of dog shows, heavy horses, motorbike stunts and animal displays.
Cooking and craft demonstrations will run throughout the day as well as magic shows, Punch and Judy and live music. Plenty of fun for all the family, not forgetting your four-legged friends
September
Stourbridge Medieval Fair
When: Sat 2 September 12.00 – 4.30pm
Where: Leper Chapel, Cambridge
Re-enactment of the famous Stourbridge Fair at Cambridge’s oldest building, the Leper Chapel. This wonderful, popular event for all the family allows you to step back in time to a medieval age. Witness the traditional way of opening the fair at noon and the costumed dancers.
As well as dancing, there will be singing, storytelling, stalls, crafts and fascinating history talks. You can also experience the historic chapel, which is normally closed.
Free event.
Price: £15
90 minute Hidden Cambridge walking tour
When: 3rd September – 10.30
Where: Round Church, Bridge St, Cambridge CB2 1UB
Enjoy a tour of the lesser-known Castle area of Cambridge. Discover some of the hidden nooks and crannies you’ve never noticed before.
Hear stories of beer, brothels and boatmen! Nobel prizes jostle with rugby players and mustard factories.
Your tour will be led by a qualified guide, and the ticket price includes a free entry to the Museum of Cambridge with a month of the visit. All the proceeds of the tours are donated to support the museum.
Price: £15
The Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival
When: 9th September
Where: River Cam at Fen Ditton
The 17th Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival takes place on Saturday 9th September 2023 on the River Cam at Fen Ditton and more than 40 teams are expected to compete over the 200m race course, watched by several hundred spectators. The Ditton Meadows location offers a superb venue and, as well as the exciting races, a range of bankside entertainment, food stalls and fun activities guarantee a fabulous day out for all the family! Read more about entry levels below.
This is a Free event
October
Midnight Tales Author Event Cambridge 2023
When: Sat, 7 October 2023, 10:00 – 16:00
Where: Holiday Inn Cambridge CB24 9PH
The first of it’s kind in the beautiful city of Cambridge! Why not make a weekend of it and see what there is all to offer in this historical city.
Not only will there be an outstanding line up of authors for you to discover new reads, chat to like minded readers and authors but in the evening you’ll be able to let your hair down and shake what yo mama gave ya! Oh and of course there will be food! The party will be held in the same location as the Author Event took place! Nice and easy! From 7pm until Midnight. There will be a dancefloor, DJ, Magic Mirror, Buffet, and a private bar! Lots of memories to made so why not come join the party!!!
Admission: £30
Segway Events – Hinchingbrooke Country Park
When: Oct 20, 2023 – Oct 23, 2023
Where: Hinchingbrooke Country Park
November
Midnight Tales Author Event Cambridge 2023
When: Sat, 7 October 2023, 10:00 – 16:00
Where: Holiday Inn Cambridge CB24 9PH
The first of it’s kind in the beautiful city of Cambridge! Why not make a weekend of it and see what there is all to offer in this historical city.
Not only will there be an outstanding line up of authors for you to discover new reads, chat to like minded readers and authors but in the evening you’ll be able to let your hair down and shake what yo mama gave ya! Oh and of course there will be food! The party will be held in the same location as the Author Event took place! Nice and easy! From 7pm until Midnight. There will be a dancefloor, DJ, Magic Mirror, Buffet, and a private bar! Lots of memories to made so why not come join the party!!!
Admission: £30
If you are looking to stay in Cambridge in 2023 then please take a look at our apartment options here or call our team on 01223 709409 where we will be happy to discuss options and availability.
