We’ve just recovered from the excitement of The Cambridge Club Festival, the summer’s most feelgood family festival which happened in Childerley Orchard near Cambridge from 7 to 10 June.
Team games at CC Club Festival
Feed your Imagination Station at the best family festival
Practically kicking off the UK’s summer festival line-up, this was the 13th year of The Cambridge Club, and the organisation was hard to fault – meaning happy campers with plenty of hot showers, not to mention hairdressing stations with electricity, and regular clean-ups throughout the day.
The lighting elves had clearly been working their pointy shoes off too, producing a twinkling fairyland feel throughout the festival ground.
Making memories at the Imagination Station
The Imagination Station, presented by theatre and events specialists Tootles & Nibs, brought some of the UK’s best children’s entertainers to the family area, so it was brimming with fun activities, including theatre, competitions, team games, circus, crafts, music, and dancing.
Another big hit (or kick) was the phenomenal Yo! Street Zone Football team, who ran Street Football Skills sessions and full Panna tournaments for crowds of excited, yet well-behaved, kids. And festival fairground rides were ready for the whole family to take a spin on throughout the weekend, looking gorgeous against the setting sun during headliner sets.
Friday night headliner Jessie Ware
Jessie Ware – making a young fan’s dreams come true
Talking of headliners, vocal powerhouse Jessie Ware delivered a magnetic performance, and made the weekend of 11-year-old Isabella who came on stage to help her sing Say You Love Me, in front of a crowd of thousands.
On Saturday, more audience participation came during Sister Sledge’s set as they performed He’s the Greatest Dancer, with several audience members jumping up to show their moves with the Sisters during a very cool dance-off. Then, finishing their set with an epic version of We Are Family, Sister Sledge epitomised their own lyric, with the daughters and granddaughters of the original line-up both performing in and managing the group – perfect for a family festival.
Lovely Natasha Bedingfield also killed it on Friday, and the Earth Wind and Fire Experience blew everyone’s socks off on Saturday night. Sunday night’s closing headliner was Chaka Khan, a fitting end to an amazing line-up.
The big wheel keeps on turning, CC Club Festival
Club USA aka the friendliest bar staff in the world
On another note, Club USA ran a brilliant hospitality section at Cambridge Club festival, and we also rather fell in love with Sam & Shauna, Texan barbecue specialists and real-life couple doing live cookouts throughout the weekend. Their bubbly charm was just as infectious as that of the bar staff throughout the festival, who catered for a thirsty clientele with endless patience and smiles.
The range of food stalls catering to families was excellent, and shoppers were in festival heaven with all the sequinned capes, funky glasses and colourful hats you could ever need (this year, anyway).
Finally, good news on the comfort front, this year’s Cambridge Club also saw the debut of Love Bites Only, a new, 100% chemical-free insect repellent. Offering try-before-you-buy at their stall was an inspired idea for a festival, and turns out their dual-purpose repellent/balm is perfect for protecting kids against bitey summer pests and their aftermath!
So after all the excitement, all we can say is, we’ll be back in Childerley Orchard for The Cambridge Club 2025.