Christmas in Cambridge
Cambridge holds more than just festive lights and Christmas trees during the holiday. Be careful, you may be visited by Dickens’ ghosts while staying here for Christmas.
Cambridge, England is one of the most well known cities on the face of the earth. It is known for its famous university and it is definitely one place you want to visit during the holiday season. During the warm months you can punt, row, picnic, and enjoy other outdoor activities. In the winter, however, Cambridge turns from a university town into a quaint Christmas card of holiday fun and enjoyment.
The ghosts at Christmas
The city of Cambridge is said to be haunted and in between enjoying the lights and decorations of the season, you can also enjoy a guided walked through the city where you could very well wander into one of the cities ephemeral residents. Each of the tours lasts approximately ninety minutes and goes through the entire city including a punting trip that leads through the backs of the college and the dimly lit streets. Visitors should make sure that they verify the times of the tours and book their tickets in advance.
The college town during the holidays
If you are interested in attending the famous Festival of the Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College Chapel, make sure you get in line for the service by 9am on Christmas Eve. The event fills up quickly and the seats in the chapel are taken on a first come, first basis. The Sung Eucharist is held at the Chapel on Christmas Day. Both events are open to the public after the members of the college and their guests have taken their seats. There are no tickets to the event.
The city started a Santa Run last year and they will be repeating it this year since it was so popular. The run is a 2km run that raises money for the East Anglican Children’s Hospice. The date of the run has not yet been confirmed for this year. Children of all ages can then enjoy visiting Santa Claus at the Country Folk Museum and the can participate in a Santa’s Boot Hunt and they will get gifts from the big guy himself.
Unique Christmas performances
Finally the Christmas Revels will be performing 18 shows in the month of December in the tradition of Thomas Hardy – country musicians who entertain the audience by using poetry, narrative, music, and dance. Additional performers this year with the Christmas Revels include David Coffin, soloist Mary Casey, the Pinewoods Morris Men, and the Cambridge Brass Ensemble.