As the daylight hours dwindle, Cambridge plays host to a smorgasbord of after-dusk activities to keep you entertained this month – from illumination trails to evening soirees, as Miriam Balanescu discovers
In a new light
Returning for its third year, Cambridge University Botanic Garden will again be set aglow for Cambridge Botanic Lights, as the team transforms the resplendent grounds, walkways and water features into an eye-popping marvel of colour, light, sound and nature – a feast for all the senses.
If you need a break from the cold, the cafe will be open, plus a variety of food and drink stalls will
be serving hot chocolate and other sweet treats. There’s even more time to visit this year, with the illumination trail set to have its longest run yet, from 28 November to 23 December. botanic.cam.ac.uk
Wimpole Estate will be putting on a similarly spectacular display, with more than a million twinkling lights turning the site into a winter paradise from 21 November to 3 January. One of the region’s most sprawling illumination trails, you will be treated to a mixture of time-tested favourites and inventive new installations – such as the stunning light tunnel, which serves as a perfect spot for radiant selfies. nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate
Now’s also your chance to see the enchanting gardens at Kentwell Hall lit by night. From 13 November to 31 December a special, illuminated experience will see this historic site’s majestic yews and cedars cut striking silhouettes and the moats shimmer with reflected light, as a carefully designed walking route winds past all this and more. kentwell.co.uk
Cosy comedy
Throughout November, Big Deal Comedy will vaunt a fantastic line-up of stand-up comedians in the lively but snug setting of the Town and Gown on Market Passage. Grab a pint and get ready to laugh your heart out. bigdealcomedy.co.uk
On 14 November, Mike Gunn, Robyn Perkins and El Purnell promise a hysterical show at the Meadows Community Centre, compered by Rob Coleman and courtesy of Custard Comedy. custardcomedy.co.uk
Plus, there’s a host of classic comedy at the Junction this month, from Garth Marenghi and Jake Lambert to Horatio Gould and Rachel Galvo. junction.co.uk
On the town
At Novi Kitchen and Bar on 21 November, Chez Le Funk will bring the beats you need to see out the winter, with a heady blend of funk, soul, disco and house provided by the Chez Le Funk Collective DJs. Find tickets at bit.ly/439t1j9
Or, for a supremely civilised night out, why not head to the Hidden Rooms on Jesus Lane – an intimate hangout located in the basement of Victorian-era Roman Baths. Perfect for those chillier months, here bespoke cocktails are served and the Cambridge University Jazz Society will deliver immersive live performances on 5, 11 and 19 November. hiddenrooms.co.uk
Off with a bang
A local staple, Cambridge Fireworks Night – the city’s largest free event – is back at Midsummer Common on
1 November from 6pm to 9pm.
Expect a spectacular array of comets, rockets, fountains and new effects to transform the night sky into a breathtaking kaleidoscope of colour and light, with food stalls on hand where you can grab a tasty bite to eat. Organised and provided by Cambridge City Council, the event is supported by Illumina, AstraZeneca, Redgate, Jesus College, Qualcomm, RBC Brewin Dolphin, Cambridge BID, Trinity College, Peasgood and Skeates and Cambridge Radio. cambridge.gov.uk
Lots of other displays will be taking place across the region too, including Ely Fireworks at Cherry Hill Park, also on 1 November, where the cathedral will offer a stunning backdrop for the extravaganza. Food trucks, fairground rides and stalls will also be onsite. elyfireworks.org.uk
Winter wellness
Keep the winter blues at bay by unwinding and (if you can brave the cold!) taking a dip beneath a breathtaking starlit sky. Waresley Park Estate will be marking the start of a new lunar cycle with a sound bath and wild swim at its Lakeside Tipi – all under the light of the full moon. waresleyparkestate.co.uk
Or soothe the soul by soaking in a toasty, wood-fired hot tub or reclining in the authentic Finnish saunas at Paus. Set in 13 acres of rewilded meadow, at this much-loved wellness venue you can survey the stars from the tub while sipping a complimentary prosecco, gin or soft drink during an evening session. It’s open throughout the winter, which unsurprisingly is a popular season. It’s the ideal mood booster. paus.life
The sound of music
There are few better ways to while away the twilight hours than by immersing yourself in music. Throughout the month, Cambridge Music Festival will offer a series of enchanting performances from the Choir of King’s College, the BBC Singers and Concert Orchestra and Kaviraj Singh, as well as Angela Hewitt and more. cambridgemusicfestival.co.uk
The Cambridge Jazz Festival and its medley of blues, grooves and rhythms kicks off on 9 November with Theon Cross – bold, original music and boundary-pushing improvisation from the top emerging jazz talent of London. This year’s programme spans from live left-field electronic music to the eco-inspired lyrics of JAM String Collective. cambridgejazzfestival.info
Art after dark
An exhibition that seems custom-made for this season of battening down the hatches and hibernation, The Sleepers at Murray Edwards College gathers works exploring rest and its potential for reflection and resistance, created by 12 female artists. The exhibition navigates sleep’s importance to health, the world of dreaming and who is allowed or denied rest. From paintings to print and textiles, the collection also features a collaborative quilt. Don’t skip the curator’s tour on 6 November at 5pm, in which Laura Moseley will shed light on the connective tissue between separate works and individual stories behind the art. murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk
From 29 November – open until 6pm, six days a week – Modo Gallery will host a special exhibition championing the work
of young creatives, End Bossiness Soon. The local initiative makes the case for art’s importance in education, society and the economy. mrandmrsclarks.co.uk
