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How to make the most of the summer holidays in Cambridge

How to make the most of the summer holidays in Cambridge
Matthew O'Reilly, Head of Juniors, shares some ideas about how you can make the most of the summer holidays in Cambridge.

Here at St Mary’s we are constantly inspired by the amazing range of historical, natural, musical and artistic resources we have on our doorstep. We are very lucky to be able to enhance your daughter’s day-to-day learning through exploring local museums, the Botanic Garden and National Trust sites such as Wimpole Hall during the academic year. But in case you need more inspiration, here are some ideas of what you could get up to over the summer in and around our beautiful city.

Cambridge Live’s Big Weekend is happening this weekend (Friday 5 to Sunday 7 July). Follow the link to find out more about more about what events are happening on each day. This year Kettle’s Yard is bringing Studio Sunday to the Big Weekend. Their free studio workshop is happening on 06/07/2019 at 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM. On Saturday there is also free, drop-in, storytelling, face & arm painting and art activities between 12 noon - 6pm. Some other Saturday events include:

13:00-18:00: Free Face & Arm Painting as well as Balloon Modelling from the talented Rosemary Wild

12:00-18:00: Free drop in painting sessions with Anji Main.

12:30-17:00: Free drop-in workshops and walkabout performances from Cambridge Community Circus.

12pm-5pm: The Big Read @ The Big Weekend! Free sessions from some of Cambridge's best writers and storytellers!

History on our doorstep

More than sixty events are taking place over the school holidays in museums across Cambridge. Various classes have had the opportunity to visit some of these musuems during the year, such as the Scott Polar Research Institute, the Fitzwilliam Museum, The Museum of Archaeology and the Museum of Zoology. Find out more about Summer at the Museums.

Arts and Crafts

Cambridge Open Studios - Each weekend in July the public is invited to visit workshops and studios as part of the annual Open Studios event. This provides an opportunity for you to see artists’ work and find out about the techniques they use and the passions that inspire them. Dates for 2019 will be July 6/7, 13/14, 20/21 and 27/28.  

The great outdoors

Some lovely local outdoors adventures can be found at:

  • Wicken Fen Nature Reserve
  • Beechwoods
  • Milton Country Park
  • Wandlebury Country Park
  • Fulbourn Fen
  • Trumpington Meadows

There are also wonderful local sites such as Anglesey Abbey, Wimpole Hall and Houghton Mill. And of course, the University of Cambridge’s Botanic Garden, which is on our doorstep! Many of our classes have enjoyed outings to the Botanic Garden over the course of the academic year, and several classes have visited Wimpole Hall - Reception visited their farm and Year 4 experienced a day there during their History Festival.

Musical magic

Speaking of the Botanic Garden, they are holding a ‘sounds green’ programme of summer music in July. There’s also the Cambridge Summer Music Festival (13-27 July), and Jazz and Brass in the Parks.