Ely Scene

Hello you 👋

From soulful concerts and riverside tunes to book fairs, classic cars, and creative workshops, Ely is alive with summer energy. Whether you’re crafting a silver ring, hunting bugs, or simply soaking up live music, there’s something to make your week unforgettable. Here’s your guide to what’s on from 14–20 August.

🎟️ Events This Week

• 🎤 Heather Small – Ely Cathedral
  British soul singer Heather Small (The Voice of M People) will perform live with her full band inside the stunning Ely Cathedral on Saturday 16 August. Doors open at 7pm with Heather taking the stage at 8:50pm. Expect an unforgettable evening of soul classics in a seated venue with a fully stocked bar. Tickets start from £53.44.

• 🚗 Classic Car and Bike Show - Burwell Museum

  A fantastic display of around 40–50 classic cars, bikes, and even vintage buses rolls into Burwell Museum on Sunday 17 August. Expect motoring icons like a 1965 Ford Mustang, vintage tractors, and more. Perfect for enthusiasts and families alike. Museum admission applies and includes entry to the whole museum and its attractions.

• 🐊 Tick Tock Croc – Ely Museum
  A delightful children’s craft workshop inspired by Peter Pan, perfect for little hands and big imaginations. Suitable for ages 8–11, this creative session guides children through making their very own moving, snapping Tick Tock Crocodile. Join the fun on Thursday 14 August from 10:30am - 12:30pm. Tickets are £9 per child, including materials; accompanying adults go free.

• 💍 Make a Silver Ring (Adults) – Haddenham Arts Centre

  Learn traditional techniques and leave with a hand-made ring in this small-group workshop on Sunday 17 August, 12:30pm – 3:30pm. Guided by jeweller Nathan Frazer, it’s a relaxed, creative day in a lovely setting with café on site. Ideal as a gift-to-yourself experience. Tickets are £90.

•  ✍️ Epic Tales! Creative Writing Workshop for Children - Ely Museum

  Budding young writers can join storyteller and author Chip Colquhoun for this lively session on Friday 15 August from 10:30am - 12:30pm. With heroes from Cambridgeshire folklore as inspiration, children aged 8–12 will learn the secrets of great storytelling in a fun, supportive environment. Tickets are £15 and include free museum admission for one accompanying adult.

• 🐛 Bug Hunters – Wicken Fen
  Little explorers can sweep nets and peer into trays on Monday 18 August, 10:15am – 11:15am, meeting mini-beasts up close with a Fen expert. It’s hands-on, messy fun and includes a make-and-take craft to enjoy at home. Suitable for children aged 3+. £4 per child, accompanying adults are free. Dress for the weather; a £3.20 car park charge applies to non-members.

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👋 Local Picks

• 📚 Book Day – Prickwillow Engine Museum

  Celebrate stories at Prickwillow on Sunday 17 August, 11am – 4pm with free entry to the museum, children’s activities, and storytelling with Gill Fraser Lee of HistoryNeedsYou. Browse lots of second-hand books for sale or book a table to sell your own books or bric-a-brac for £5. A charming, hands-on outing just east of Ely.

• 🎹 Organ Recital: Edmund Aldhouse – Ely Cathedral
  Unwind with a summer organ programme from Ely’s Director of Music, Edmund Aldhouse, on Sunday 17 August, 5:15pm. Hear works by Bach, Dupré, Schumann and Mitchell, performed on the cathedral’s magnificent organ. Free with a retiring collection – a calming and uplifting close to your weekend.

• 🎶 Riverside Concerts in Jubilee Gardens - Jubilee Gardens

  The popular summer concert series continues with a performance by the King’s Lynn Town Band on Sunday 17 August at 2:30pm. Enjoy live music in the beautiful riverside setting of Jubilee Gardens – perfect for a relaxing afternoon with family and friends. Free entry.

😊 Good News in 60 Seconds

• 🏆 Ely Hero Awards 2025 Finalists Announced
  The community is celebrating as finalists have been announced across 12 categories recognising incredible dedication, kindness, and community spirit. From Best Teacher nominees Kate Arnold, Katie McDonald, and Laura Howard to Community Champions Jenny Fletcher, Cliff Loveday, and Lorraine Calver, these local heroes showcase the very best of Ely's caring community.

• 🏳️‍🌈 Ely Pride 2025 Brings Community Together
  Saturday's Ely Pride celebration at Amherst Field was a wonderful success, featuring The Glitter Box stage, therapy dogs, and free entry for everyone. The event ran from 10am to 10pm and brought the community together in a joyful celebration of diversity and inclusion, with allies warmly welcomed.

• 🎓 MP Visits Special Needs School

  Charlotte Cane, MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire, visited Highfield Ely Academy to learn about their vital work supporting children with complex needs. During her end-of-term visit, she toured the school and spoke with pupils and staff, hearing first-hand about their experiences and achievements. The children were particularly inspired by meeting their MP.

Enjoy the week ahead and make the most of what's on 🎈