Heritage & Culture

Peterborough Celebrates – Peterborough Cathedral

More than 100 events and activities to mark Peterborough Celebrates are being run by schools, community groups, charities and businesses. This is a guide to just some of the highlights to enjoy during the summer and autumn of the Cathedral’s 900th year

July

Pizza 900 Competition! – Peterborough Cathedral 14 July
Since January, local primary school children have been drawing their own pizza creations with toppings that represent the Cathedral’s 900th anniversary. Papa Luigi has been posting the children’s artwork on Facebook and the public has been voting for their favourites. Finalists will get to make their pizzas at a judging event at the Cathedral and the winning pizza will be added to the Papa Luigi menu and sold at the Italian Festival. Profits from each slice sold will go to the Peterborough 900 Campaign.

Welcome to Medeshamstede – Queensgate Shopping Centre 30 July until 5 August
Step back in time to where it all began for the city and experience what Peterborough was like 900 years ago. To celebrate our city’s wealth of history, Queensgate will be building their very own medieval town complete with moat, drawbridge and a knight or two! Located in Central Square, Medeshamstede is a free week of festivities and activities for the family to enjoy and mark our Cathedral’s 900th anniversary.

August

Tim Peake’s Spacecraft – Peterborough Cathedral 11 August to 5 November  
The Soyuz TMA-19M descent module is the historic spacecraft that brought British astronaut Tim Peake back to Earth in June 2016 after his six-month mission to the International Space Station. See this special spacecraft and enjoy a space descent virtual reality experience in the Cathedral (fee payable). You can also get up close to Tim’s spacesuit and the parachute used in the spacecraft’s return to Earth. The Cathedral is one of a handful of venues across the country where the spacecraft can be seen – and entry to visit this special display in the Cathedral’s 900th year is free.

Peterborough Celebrates 25 Years of Eco Action
The city’s environmental charity PECT will be marking its 25th birthday in the same year as the 900 celebrations. Residents will be involved in a series of green themed events including a giant bring and share picnic, film screenings, Green Festival and volunteer litter picks across the city. PECT will be seeking 900 pledges from visitors to reduce their environmental impact.

Treasures – Peterborough Museum 25 August 2018 to 6 January 2019
This exhibition will celebrate Peterborough’s heritage and items on loan from museums across the country will be on display here in Peterborough. This unique visitor experience will include objects such as important medieval manuscripts once kept at the Cathedral and the ‘Water Newton Silver’ from the Peterborough Roman town of Durobrivae.

September

Peterborough Celebrates Nene Park Trust 1 and 2 September
To mark the 40th birthday of Ferry Meadows and Peterborough Celebrates Ferry Meadows Country Park will be providing challenges at their very own Nene Outdoors water sports and outdoor activity centre. There will be the chance to get involved in cycling, golf, rowing and to take a helicopter ride!

Classic and Vintage Vehicle Festival – Embankment 1 and 2 September
This is the biggest two-day celebration of gorgeous metal in the eastern region. The city council have grown their Classic and Vintage Vehicle Festival into a weekend event that attracts an eclectic mix of cars in particular. Some of the most beautiful and rarest automobiles in existence gather on the River Nene Embankment and it’s all for your viewing pleasure. In 2017 almost 700 vehicles were shown over the two days – this year the target, unsurprisingly, will be to attract 900…

Classic and Vintage Vehicle Festival – Embankment 1 and 2 September
This is the biggest two-day celebration of gorgeous metal in the eastern region. The city council have grown their Classic and Vintage Vehicle Festival into a weekend event that attracts an eclectic mix of cars in particular. Some of the most beautiful and rarest automobiles in existence gather on the River Nene Embankment and it’s all for your viewing pleasure. In 2017 almost 700 vehicles were shown over the two days – this year the target, unsurprisingly, will be to attract 900…

Italian Festival – Cathedral Square 8 and 9 September
Peterborough’s annual celebration of all things Italian continues to grow in popularity and 2018 marks its 10th successive year. The two-day festival is the longest running event of its kind in the UK. Organised by Peterborough’s Italian Community Association and supported by the city council, this Mediterranean extravaganza features an Italian market, confectionery, ice-cream, pasta, football and boxing demonstrations, classic Italian cars, motorcycles, scooters and lots more. To mark the Cathedral’s celebrations the Italian Festival has pledged to sell 900 portions of pasta and donate the proceedings to the Cathedral’s 900 fund.

Dr Janina Ramirez – Peterborough Cathedral 21 September
The Medievalist and TV presenter is coming to the Cathedral to give a lecture on the fascinating world of mediaeval ideas and spirituality – not least their ideas about our place in the natural world, and what we can learn from them for our own day and age.

October

Perkins Great Eastern Run – Embankment 14 October
One of the UK’s top half marathons is getting bigger and better every year and the 2018 race promises to be another blockbuster of an event. More than 7,000 runners are expected to cross the start line on the Embankment and thousands of spectators will line the flat and fast route, which is ideal for achieving a personal best time. This year’s event will include the Peterborough Celebrates logo on the t-shirts and on the medal ribbons.

Oktoberfest – Embankment 19 and 20 October
Experience a traditional Oktoberfest, as Peterborough’s Embankment is once again transformed into a traditional Bavarian bash! Bring on the bier – 30,000 litres to be precise – and step inside Europe’s biggest bier tent and prepare to be entertained Bavarian style. From traditional folk to ‘Oompop’ expect foot stomping, table bashing and hearty singing galore. Grab some traditional German grub from the food court, as you raise your steins at Oktoberfest Peterborough!

Diwali Festival – Cathedral Square 27 October
Diwali is the festival of lights which has evolved into a global celebration. It’s celebrated in the autumn during a dark new moon night. Light is a metaphor for God, truth and knowledge. In recent years Peterborough has celebrated Diwali in Cathedral Square and the event is bursting at the seams with colourful dance performances, music, traditional food and shopping for all to enjoy. To mark Peterborough Celebrates, the Diwali Festival committee are aiming to switch on 900 individual bulbs to create a sea of light in Cathedral Square Peterborough Celebrates aims to increase pride in the local area and showcase Peterborough on a regional and national level, which will help attract more visitors. The campaign has many people and organisations to thank but none more so than one of its lead partners, Peterborough City Council.

● If you are interested in being a part of this city-wide celebration, visit www.peterboroughcelebrates.org.uk and click to Get Involved or Donate.

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