Events
Thursford Christmas Spectacular
Thursday 4 December 2025
Matinee Performance
A festive feast for all the senses!
We have a limited number of tickets available to attend the
Thursford Christmas Spectacular which is an extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety. It’s a fast moving celebration of the festive season featuring an eclectic mix of both seasonal and year round favourites. With a cast of 130 this is the biggest Christmas show of its kind in Europe.
It is the Winner of the Group Leisure and Travel Awards 2024 Best Christmas Experience
The coach will leave Lode Depot at 9.00am and Trumpington Park & Ride at 9.45am.
We should arrive with plenty of time for a spot of lunch/shopping before the show starts at 2pm.
Our tickets are located in the centre section in rows P-Q.
We will depart for home following the end of the show but no definite time is available at present.
The cost for the coach and this wonderful musical extravaganza
will be £82.00 for members and £85.00 for non-members.
SOLD OUT
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Christmas Celebration with Brunch
Monday 15 December 2025, 10am-1pm
Oakington Pavilion, CB24 3AW
Join the Combined Activities Committee for a morning of festive readings, singing and delicious food.
With your booking you need to choose between:
Bacon Brioche Rolls with optional Maple Syrup OR Cheese and Tomato Scone with Pickle and Butter.
There will also be Cranberry Flapjacks, Blueberry Pancakes with Crème Fraiche and Christmas Muffins to enjoy - with Mulled Apple Juice, Coffee and Tea.
Cost: WI Members £15.00 Family and Friends £18.00
Booking closes: Thursday 4 December 2025
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“The Red Shoes” Ballet
Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London
Thursday 15 January 2026
The Red Shoes is based on the tragic fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson and the 1948 Hollywood film. It is the story of a talented young dancer who finds herself torn between love and her career, with heartbreaking consequences.
Created by Matthew Bourne, the Red Shoes first premiered back in 2016 and has become one of his signature works, allowing audiences to capture a sense of possession, passion and all-encompassing obsession.
This is an intoxicating drama where life imitates art with fateful consequences. The Red Shoes will dazzle your senses and break your heart.
Pick-up Points: Lode (Bus Depot) 8.30am and Trumpington Park & Ride 9.15am. We aim to arrive in London with plenty of time for lunch before the performance which is at 2.30pm. Our seats are situated in the Stalls with minimal steps.
We will leave for home after the performance, approximately 5.00pm.
Cost for CFWI Member: £105.00
Cost for family and friends booked by a CFWI Member: £108.00
Booking closed
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We look forward to you joining us for a
Winter Warmer Lunch
Tuesday 20 January 2026
12.15 for 12.30pm start
CFWI Office
Main Course
Beef and Vegetable Casserole Or Vegetable and Bean Casserole
With
Cheese and Potato Pie & Seasonal Green Vegetables
Dessert
Brioche Bread and Butter Pudding with Cream
Followed by Tea or Coffee
Cost: £18.00 WI Members £21.00 Family and Friends
Booking closes: Thursday 8 January 2026
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How to get the best out of your Slow Cooker
“Is it time to get it out of the cupboard, give it a dust off and make the most of it!”
Monday 26 January 2026, 10am – 12pm
CFWI Office
An informative session of helpful hints and tips about how to use your Slow Cooker.
An opportunity to taste some savoury and sweet recipes.
Also, the more experienced user might enjoy seeing other ways of using their machine such as baking.
The morning will include recipe sharing, demonstrations and a variety of different slow cookers to view.
Come along and join in the discussion.
Please bring along and share your favourite recipes…
Tea and Coffee will be served
£10.00 for Members and £12.00 for Family and Friends
Booking closes: Monday 12 January 2026
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A Coffee Morning with a talk from Emma Sanders
CFWI Office
Tuesday 17 February 2026
10.30am – 12pm
Emma has been with Magpas Air Ambulance for over 10 years, having started as a volunteer. She supports the community in all aspects of fundraising—from standing in muddy fields with a bucket to giving talks.
Emma will have a range of Magpas merchandise available to purchase on the day.
Cost: WI Members £8.00 or Family and Friends £10.00
Booking starts: Monday 1 December 2025
Booking closes: Monday 3 February 2026
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For all the jigsaw fanatics amongst you, pit your wits against other like-minded members and enter our
Jigsaw Challenge 2026
At Oakington Pavilion
Monday 23 February 2026, 10am for 10.30am start
Gather a team of 4 friends from your WI and come along to take part in our annual Jigsaw Challenge to see who can complete the picture first.
You will be welcomed with tea and coffee from 10am.
A light lunch of soup and bread followed by a muffin will be served at about 12.30pm when all puzzles are completed.
A small prize will be awarded to the members of the winning team.
Why not bring along your old tried and tested puzzles to swap with other members on the day.
Cost £12.00 per member
Booking closes: Monday 2 February 2026
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A Morning with Laurie Friday
‘A Future for the Fens’
Friday 6 March 2026
CFWI Office - 10.30am start
Would you like to find out more about the Fens role in water management and how it provides crops for food and habitats for wildlife? Will this alter in the future?
Wicken Fen provides one of the few ‘natural’ areas of the Fen but how is it adapting to climate change? Come along and find out.
Dr Laurie Friday has been working on a project for the Centre for Landscape Regeneration in the University of Cambridge addressing the effects of climate change and loss of biodiversity in the Fens. She says, ‘As an ecologist I am pretty much obsessed with the diversity of living things; most ecologists are.’
We are delighted that she is joining us to share the vision for the Fens and hope to see you there!
There will be tea, coffee and biscuits.
Members £7.00 Family and Friends £8.00
Booking starts: Monday 1 December 2025
Booking closes: Friday 13 February 2026
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Speakers Showcase
Saturday 7 March 2026
9.45am for a prompt start at 10am - 4pm
Oakington Pavilion, CB24 3AW
We are holding a Speaker’s Audition day and we would like to invite WI’s to send one or two of their members to come along and listen to the presentations, after which they will be given the opportunity to vote on which speakers they consider suitable for inclusion on our speakers list. Prospective speakers will each be given a fifteen to twenty minute slot with a few minutes to set up, so that we can hear as many as possible during the day.
Please bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided.
Cost: Members £8.00 (Members only)
Booking starts: Monday 1 December 2025
Booking closes: Monday 16 February 2026
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Coffee Morning
Celebrating St Patrick’s Day
Tuesday 17 March 2026
CFWI Office
10.30am start
A selection of special Savoury and Sweet Irish Delights await!
Cost: Members £8.00 or Family and Friends £10.00
Booking starts: Monday 1 December 2025
Booking closes: Monday 2 March 2026
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Traditional Ceilidh with Live Band and Caller
Friday 20 March 2026
Whittlesford Village Hall
7pm – 10pm
A great fun evening to join in with dancing or watch others
Menu
Jacket Potato & Meat or Veg Chilli
Followed by Flapjack
Please bring your own drink
Cost: Members £20.00 or Family and Friends £25.00
Booking closes: Friday 20 February 2026
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Guided Tour of Downing College Gardens and Afternoon Tea with the Head Gardener
Wednesday 15 April 2026 – 10.30am-12.30pm
Stroll through the College grounds with Downing’s Head Gardener, including some areas which are not normally open to the public such as Fellows’, Master’s and Rose gardens. Ask questions and chat over afternoon tea.
Cost £30.00 per member
Booking closes: Monday 2 February 2026
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T&C’s
Please note that participants will not be required to show a ticket at the event. No refunds will be given after the closing date, but if you are unable to attend we may have a waiting list.
In the event of a refund - this will not include the booking fee of 6.5% plus VAT.
Where an event is open to Family and Friends, they need to be over 18 and be booked and accompanied by a CFWI member.