Events
International Granny Square Day
Saturday 15 August 2026, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
CFWI Office, Girton
International Granny Square Day takes place on 15 August 2026, it is a global celebration where crocheters make traditional granny squares.
Granny Squares – also lovingly called ‘grannies’ by crochet fans – have a long history. They were mentioned in an American magazine as early as 1891. The first printed pattern for a granny square appeared in 1897. The colourful designs had their big moment in the late 1960s. They made their way into the colourful fashion world of the hippies and brought colour into homes. Since then, their fascination has remained unbroken, which is certainly due to the fact that grannies offer endless creative possibilities.
This is a free event to celebrate International Granny Square Day and we are inviting members to bring their own crochet hooks and yarn and come and enjoy a sociable morning to make a granny square(s)
This is not a formal craft workshop but there will be help available if you get stuck with your “granny”!
Tea, Coffee and Cake will be provided, monetary donations welcome (Members only)
Please book as usual even though the event is free
Booking starts: 1 June 2026
Booking closes: 1 August 2026
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Day Trip by Coach to Southwold and the Suffolk Summer Theatre
Saturday 22 August 2026
The Combined Events Committee will once again be arranging this popular trip to Southwold by coach along with a matinee performance at The Southwold Theatre.
We arrive at the picturesque town of Southwold around 11.30am allowing time for lunch and a walk around the town and clifftops before seeing a matinee performance of Alan Ayckbourn’s “Show and Tell” at the quaint Southwold Theatre.
The coach will depart from Alisons of Cambridge at 8.10am and Trumpington Park and Ride at 8.45am. We will leave Southwold directly following the matinee performance.
Cost: WI Member £60.00 Family and Friends booked by a WI member £63.00
Booking closed.
We are offering tickets just for travel to Southwold on 22 August for £40.00.
Please contact Olive Swain at olive123swain@gmail.com to book.
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Quiz Night 2026
Cottenham Village Hall
Friday 11 September 2026
7pm – 10pm
Come and join the fun
Please bring your own picnic and drinks as no refreshments will be available.
Due to the size of the venue this event is restricted to 25 teams so we may not be able to accommodate more than 1 team from each WI. Please book for extra teams but be aware we may have to reject multiple teams to be fair to everyone.
Cost: £24 per team of 4 people
Members only
Booking Closes: Thursday 13 August 2026
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Beginners Sock Making
Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 September 2026
10am to 4pm, CFWI Office
Learn to knit a pair of socks!
Perfect for Christmas Presents!
Learn knitting on 4/5 needles. Learn heel shaping and kitchener stitch. All using just 1 ball of wool.
Suitable for beginner sock makers.
You must be able to read a pattern, cast on and do knit and purl stich.
WI Members £50.00 (Needles and wool included in course price.)
Tea and Coffee will be provided - Please bring a packed lunch.
Booking starts: Monday 6 July 2026
Booking closes: 21 August 2026
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The Emmanuel College Area Walking Tour
Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 September 2026
Meet at 11am in front of Emmanuel College on St Andrew’s Street
So many things to discover: a founder who wasn’t afraid to challenge Elizabeth 1st and a daughter-in-law who was a rather impressive woman in her own right. A famous figure in the chapel’s stained-glass windows, but wait, that’s not his face! Perhaps the only Cambridge college to have a certain room that students today simply can’t live without. And do they really have the only private subway in the UK?
As well as Emmanuel College, we’ll head to Parker’s Piece for several fascinating stories.
Note: We will try to go inside Emmanuel College but the College does occasionally close to the public without notice.
Cost: WI Members £18.00 Family and Friends £20.00
Booking starts: Monday 1 June 2026
Booking closes: Monday 24 August 2026
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WI Day at Audley End House and Gardens
Wednesday 16 September 2026
All tickets £10.00
Federation of Essex Women's Institutes are delighted to invite WI members to a WI Day 2026 event at Audley End House & Gardens. We look forward to seeing members from Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridge and Suffolk West Federations.
In partnership with English Heritage, the WI will be taking over Audley End again for WI Day 2026. Entrance and free flow access to the house and garden are included. A bit nearer the time, WI Event Admission Ticket holders will be invited to sign up for various special House Tours, Stable Tours, Garden Tours and Women at Audley re-enactments. To take part in these WI specific tours and shows on the day you must purchase a WI Event Admission Ticket, even if you are already an English Heritage member.
Please note that WI members will need to show their entrance ticket at the gate - either on the phone or on paper so please ensure that everyone in your party has their own ticket. Additionally, each person on the tours will be required to show their tour booking confirmation.
You can bring a picnic or enjoy the refreshments at the on-site facilities.
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Queen Elizabeth II – Her Life in Style at the King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Tuesday 22 September 2026
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Guided Tour of Downing College Gardens with the Head Gardener and Afternoon Tea
Friday 25 September 2026
10.30am-12.30pm
For anyone who missed this tour in April – we have managed to book it again!
Stroll through the College grounds with Downing College’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 a full afternoon tea.
Cost: £32.00 (Members only)
Booking starts: Monday 1 June 2026
Booking closes: Tuesday 1 September 2026
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Calling All Treasurers
You are warmly invited to a
Free Treasurers’ Networking Coffee Morning 2026
at The CFWI Office
on Saturday 26 September 2026, from 10am-1pm
Coffee, tea, cake and biscuits will be supplied.
This will be the ideal opportunity to meet other Treasurers. Your role in the WIs is vital, and your experiences will be of interest to all of us.
Please let us know if you have any food intolerances.
Booking starts: Monday 3 August 2026
Booking closes: Friday 18 September 2026
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Christmas Gnome Placemat Day School
Wednesday 28 October 2026 10am to 4pm,
CFWI Office Get ready for Christmas!
Come along and spend a relaxing and enjoyable day with Linda Phillips making an appliqué Christmas Gnome Tablemat
Members £43.00
Please bring a sewing machine and a packed lunch
Tea/Coffee provided
Booking starts: Monday 3 August 2026
Booking closes: 7 October 2026
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Coffee Morning with Board Games
Wednesday 7 October 2026
10.30am start
CFWI Office, Girton
A fun morning not to be missed Tea, Coffee and Cake included
Cost: Members: £8.00 Family and Friends: £10.00
Booking starts: Monday 1 June 2026
Booking closes: Monday 14 September 2026
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Knit & Stitch Show
Thursday 8 October 2026
Alexandra Palace, London
The UK’s Biggest and Best Textile Craft Show
Bringing together hundreds of crafting workshops, demonstrations, interactive features, curated Textile Art galleries, as well as over 300 of the leading specialist craft suppliers – this year’s shows are a must-attend for anyone with a crafty bone in their body!
We’ve rebranded! Don’t worry – The Knitting & Stitching Show you know and love isn’t changing. You can still expect the same inspiring content, opportunities to learn new skills, and the best places to shop – all under the new name, Knit + Stitch
Coach leaves show at 4.00pm
Coach Pick up points: Lode Coach Depot 7.45am and Trumpington Park & Ride 8.30am
WI Members £50.00 Family and Friends £53.00
Booking starts: 6 July 2026
Booking closes: 15 September 2026
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Come Craft with us on Mental Health Day
Saturday 10 October 2026, 10am-1pm
CFWI Office
World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10 October is an awareness day to support better mental well-being and reduce stigmas about mental illness. This year, just for the morning, take time for yourself as you slow down, enjoy tea and cake, and try your hand at a variety of fun, mindful crafts amongst friends. No skills needed—just a peaceful space to unwind, play with creativity, and recharge your mind. All activities and supplies provided.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Cost: CFWI Members £10.00
Family and Friends booked by a CFWI Member £12.00
Booking starts: Monday 3 August 2026
Booking closes: Monday 5 October 2026
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SCHIAPARELLI
Fashion becomes Art Exhibition at the V&A
Thursday 15 October 2026
The V&A presents the first major Schiaparelli exhibition in London spanning her output from the 1920s to her retirement in 1954.
Elsa Schiaparelli was a radical fashion designer she created wearable art for many of the most distinguished women of the 20th Century. She worked with many of the leading artistes of her time, collaborating with Salvador Dali, Cocteau, Man Ray and Picasso.
Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli were direct contemporaries and fierce rivals, dominating the Paris fashion scene during the interwar period.
Schiaparelli and Dali, working together, produced surreal and daring designs, such as the unforgettable and famous Lobster Dress.
The coach will leave Lode at 8am and Trumpington Park & Ride at 8.45am. We should arrive in plenty of time for our first booked entry into the exhibition at 12 noon for non V&A members. Groups of 10, 8 & 4 will enter at half hourly intervals throughout the morning.
If you are a member of the V&A you can visit the exhibition at will and you will pay for the coach only. If you are not a member of the V&A your cost will be for the coach and entry ticket. The trip will be open to family and friends. Please make sure that you opt for the ticket that is applicable to you:
WI and V&A member: £35.00 Family and friends and V&A member: £39.00
WI members and non V&A member: £49.00 Family and friends and non V&A member: £52.00
We will aim to leave by 4pm (Contact details for the day will be available before the outing.)
Booking closes: Monday 7 September
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Speakers Showcase
Saturday 17 October 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 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 3 August 2026
Booking closes: Monday 28 September 2026
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Come and join us for a wonderful homemade meal and good company at our Autumn Lunch
CFWI Office
Tuesday 27 October 2026
Lunch served at 12.30pm
The Menu
Creamy Lemon Chicken
or
Mushroom, Butternut Squash with Creamy Lemon Sauce
Served with Rice and Vegetables
Dessert
Plum pudding Cake with Spicy Plum Jam Topping and Cream
Tea and coffee will be served at the end of the meal
A lunch not to be missed so book early!
Cost: WI Members £18.00 Family and Friends £21.00
All dietary needs will be catered for please list when booking.
Booking starts: Monday 6 July 2026
Booking closes: Thursday 8 October 2026
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We look forward to you joining us for an Italian Banchetto
on Friday 6 November at 7pm in the CFWI Office
Aperitivo (Drinks & Appetizers):
Bellini or Non-alcoholic Bellini/ Prosecco
Antipasti:
Sweet/Spicy Nuts, Olives, Tomato Bruschetta
Secondi
Pasta with Roasted Tomato, Courgette, Pesto with Pine Nuts and optional Parmesan Cheese
Contorni (Main & Side):
Choose Either Meat or Vegetarian Option
Roasted Chicken Thighs in Honey Chilli and Balsamic Glaze with Roasted Garlic Potatoes and Fresh Arugula Salad (Rocket Salad with a Lemony Caesar Salad Dressing)
Baked Cauliflower Pizzaiola with Roasted Garlic Potatoes and Fresh Arugula Salad Baked Cauliflower with Tomatoes and Cheese, White Wine, Garlic, and a Hint of Chilli
Dolce (Dessert):
Tiramisu with Amaretto Shot
Please bring your own drinks of choice
WI Members £25.00 Family and Friends £28.00
Booking starts: Monday 6 July 2026
Booking closes: Monday 19 October 2026
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Coffee Morning
with
Wednesday 11 November 2026
10.30am start
CFWI Office, Girton
A fun morning not to be missed!
Tea, Coffee and Cake included
Cost: Members: £8.00 Family and Friends: £10.00
Booking starts: Monday 6 July 2026
Booking closes: Monday 1 November 2026
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Girton College Tour
Thursday 19 November 2026
10.15am
Discover the rich history and tranquil beauty of Girton College on this guided tour. Explore the stunning Victorian architecture, peaceful gardens, and striking modern spaces that together tell the story of the UK’s first residential institution offering university-level education for women. Learn about Girton’s pioneering founders, its trailblazing alumnae, and the traditions that shaped its unique character. This tour offers a rare glimpse into a remarkable academic community.
Coffee and cake, or lunch, will be available to purchase in the Girton College Cafeteria after the event.
Please indicate whether you expect to purchase refreshments from the café.
Cost: WI Members £15.00 Family and Friends £18.00
Booking starts: Monday 3 August 2026
Booking closes: Monday 5 October 2026
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Holkham Hall Candlelight Experience
Wednesday 9 December 2026
Following the success of our visit two years ago we would like to give you the opportunity to try it again!
Experience the magic of Christmas at Holkham with a decorated house, full of magical decked trees. Every year the theme is changed. There will be an opportunity to shop and purchase their seasonal crafts and visit the grounds.
The visit includes Holkham Stories Exhibition Walk Through and Films and Videos all about Holkham.
Holkham Hall is an 18th century country house, near the village of Holkham in Norfolk.
We will arrive around 11.30am, allowing time for you to explore the grounds and gardens as well as have lunch in the café. (lunch is not included in the ticket price).
From 2pm we will enjoy the magical Candlelight Experience, visiting the sparkling splendour of state rooms that have been decorated for Christmas. This is a self-led tour and can be experienced at your own pace. The ticket price includes the cost of entry into the venue, with a complementary glass of Prosecco and mince pie. Wheelchair access is available via a stair lift.
The coach will leave at 4.30pm.
Coach pick up points: Lode 9am and Trumpington Park and Ride 9.45am
WI Members £70.00 Family and Friends £75.00
Booking starts: Monday 6 July 2026
Booking closes: Monday 12 October 2026
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Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella
Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London
Thursday 14 January 2027 – 2.30pm performance
Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella returns for a 30th anniversary revival of one of New Adventures’ most loved productions.
Set in London during the Second World War, this darker reimagining of the classic fairytale unfolds against the shadow of the Blitz, where a chance meeting leads to a powerful wartime romance.
With Prokofiev’s sweeping score, striking period design and Bourne’s distinctive storytelling, Cinderella blends drama, danger and emotion in a version of the story that feels both haunting and timeless.
The coach will leave the Lode depot at 9.00 am and Trumpington Park & Ride at 9.45 am. We will arrive in London for approximately 12 noon in time for lunch before the performance which begins at 2.30pm. Our seats will be in rows O, P and Q. We will be leaving London straight after the performance.
The closing date for this trip is Thursday 17 July. It is appreciated that this is a very early date but we have been able to negotiate £20 off per theatre ticket per person.
Cost: WI Members £108.00 and Family and Friends booked by a WI Member £110.00
Booking closes: Friday 17 July 2026
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.