Christmas is on its way! Discover Christmas events near you in Buntingford and South of Cambridge, from festive markets, Christmas fairs and late-night shopping to Santa visits, light switch-ons, wreath-making, concerts, pantomimes and family days out.

We’ll be adding more local Christmas events as they’re announced so bookmark this page and check back regularly – we’ll keep updating it with the latest Christmas events near you as we hear about them.

Whether you’re looking for a traditional Guy Fawkes Night celebration, a spectacular fireworks display or a local event to enjoy with the family, discover what’s happening around Buntingford and South of Cambridge this year.

We’ll continue to add new local fireworks events as details are announced, so bookmark this page and check back for the latest Bonfire Night and fireworks displays near to you.

The true highlight of the 2026 show was the incredible generosity of those attending, with just over £16,000 raised. The majority of these funds will go directly to the club’s chosen charities: the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) and two local SERV blood runner groups.

Even more impressively, the club’s Treasurer has confirmed that since the show’s inception, the club has now donated just over £300,000 to charity – a monumental milestone of which its members are immensely proud.

The club would also like to thank local residents for their support and occasional forbearance. The show generates a lot of traffic on local roads, which many people who do not attend the event enjoy by watching the parade of passing motorcycles. However, the club appreciates that some inconvenience is created and that a very small number of guests ride rather ‘enthusiastically’ in the vicinity, something which the club does not condone.

The Royston and District Motorcycle Club intends to continue putting on the show every year, and planning is already well underway for next year. It is highly likely that the event will once again be held at Eternit on Wednesday 16th June 2027.

www.roystonmotorcycleclub.co.uk

As the nights are drawing in, there’s nothing like a warming negroni in front of the fire.

The twist of orange peel is the perfect garnish.

INGREDIENTS

25ml Naked Pinkster
25ml Campari or select aperitivo
25ml sweet vermouth
Orange peel

METHOD

Pour all the liquid ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, stir to dilute and cool

Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice

Garnish with orange peel

Courtesy of pinkstergin.com
Follow @pinkstergin on socials

Whether you’re looking for your next read, something to keep the children entertained over half term, or planning Christmas gifts, there’s something for every age and interest.

Over at Bow Books Kids, Halloween books and plenty of half-term reads are in store, and activities for a range of ages. The Gruffalo Granny has also arrived! While this edition isn’t signed, it comes with a bonus activity, making it an extra-special treat for children – perfect for half term or as a Christmas gift.

We’re now stocking Warhammer, adding even more choice for younger readers and fans of fantasy and adventure.

And for those looking to stock up, there’s 3 for 2 across both shops on selected books, subject to terms and conditions.

Bow Books & Bow Books Kids, 6 & 12 Angel Pavement, Royston SG8 9AS. Open: Mon-Sat
BB: 01763 793 279 – BBK: 07715 593 516
bow-books.co.uk – FB/Insta

MCR Pathways urgently need 39 volunteer mentors for young people locally, in Stevenage and Cheshunt: 34 across Barnwell, Marriotts, Nobel and Thomas Alleyne, and five at Haileybury Turnford.

A mentor gives just one hour a week during school time. No previous mentoring experience is required, and full training and ongoing support are provided.

Could you be the consistent adult that a young person is waiting for?

To register, visit: mcrpathways.org/register or call 07743 513152

Run by Cambridge Carbon Footprint, the free tours offer a chance to see real-life home improvements including heat pumps, insulation, solar panels, batteries, EV chargers, heat recovery systems and rainwater harvesting.

Visitors can hear directly from homeowners about what they installed, what it cost, what worked, and what they might do differently.

There’s also an online talk on Batteries on Tuesday 13th October, 7–8pm, exploring the latest battery technology, prices and how batteries can work alongside solar PV, heat pumps and EVs.

Places on in-person tours are limited, so advance booking is essential.

To find out more and book, visit:
cambridgecarbonfootprint.org/open-eco-homes

There has been a hive of activity at the Ward Freman swimming pool in Buntingford over the summer.

From professionals fitting new boilers, circulation pumps and tiling the pool, to volunteers pruning, scrubbing and cleaning. Local businesses have got involved too. Welwyn Garden Alarms have upgraded our security system for free, whilst Attend2IT have upgraded our CCTV. Tim’s Chimneys have capped off the old redundant chimneys and we had a new external sign donated by Stephen Newby.

Work has started on the new showers and reception desk and we are knocking down an internal wall to improve the pool viewing and create a small cafe.

We have interviewed for a General Manager and Lifeguards, with swimming teachers next to be recruited, for our very own swim school that will run weekend mornings and a couple of evenings a week – Buntingford Swim!

By the time you read this the pool should have been filled up with water and all that’s really left is to add you – the swimmers! So if you are interested in adult or children swimming lessons please get in touch at lessons@wardfremanpool.org

For membership enquiries please email membership@wardfremanpool.org and if you would like to volunteer to help in reception or the cafe it’s volunteer@wardfremanpool.org

Buntingford Swimming Club would like help to restart once again and they can be contacted on hello@buntingfordswimmingclub.co.uk

This is just Phase One in our mission to repair, reopen and revitalise the Ward Freman Pool.

Our vision to create a modern swimming facility that the whole community can be proud of requires further funding, so fundraising and grant applications will continue.

We want to have a “Changing Places” Toilet which will be open for the general public as well as those going swimming. We also want to invest in solar panels and a modern air handling unit, ultimately a changing village and a flexible destination cafe and social space.

Find out more at www.wardfremanpool.org
FB: WardFremanPool

Whilst the garden will look lovely this month, and there is plenty of maintenance to do, as the days grow shorter, and the rain a little more persistent, thoughts must turn to protecting the garden from the first frosts and colder weather and looking to the future and next spring.

Flower garden

October is a month when many blooms are still looking beautiful, especially if the first frost has not arrived. Magnificent Japanese anemones will provide structure, height and glorious flowers late into the year, as should the myriads of fuchsias. Hardy varieties such as Tom Thumb and Lady Thumb are dwarf varieties that grow no bigger than 30-45cm but flower non-stop until the first frosts. When they do start to die down, mulch around the base with compost or bark and leave the plants alone as they will come again next year.

Protect any tender plants like dahlias by digging up the tubers and storing them in a frost-free, dry spot to replant again next year.

Continue to plant spring bulbs like hyacinths, daffodils, tulips and crocuses for a fantastic show next spring.

Fruit and vegetable plot

October is the ideal time for planting bare-root fruit trees. Apples, cherries, plums, and pears all come as bare-root trees which are often cheap to buy because they are young, dormant trees specially grown in fields and dug up without any soil on their roots making them very quick to become established once planted. ‘Discovery’ is a popular variety of apple to plant this way, ‘Victoria’ a classic heavy cropping and delicious plum, and ‘Morello’ a perfect cherry if you have north-facing walls or shade.

October is the perfect month to continue sowing your winter lettuce, broad beans and overwintering peas.

Protecting and tidying

As the year continues onward, protecting and tidying become more important. All tender or exotic plants need to be moved into a greenhouse, conservatory, or frost-free shed before the first frost hits. And make sure you don’t forget to make sure the greenhouse, or any cold frames are winter ready.

Autumn gales can severely damage any climbing plants like roses so lightly trim them to prevent “wind-rock” damage. Continue to regularly rake up fallen leaves from your lawn so they don’t block out light and aerate the soil if it’s prone to waterlogging.

If you do have somewhere that is prone to waterlogging, lift your container plants onto “pot feet”, bricks or stones to prevent them from sitting in cold, waterlogged soil all winter.

They might seem like a nuisance, but you can make the most of your fallen leaves by turning them into a nutritious mulch. Simply gather up the leaves and pack them into black bin bags with a few holes poked in the sides. Then, leave them in a quiet corner of your garden for anything up to a year and it will create a highly nutritious mulch for your garden.

Our winner, Ken from Meesden, visited the Blind Fiddler in Anstey with his winning voucher, and has kindly written a review of his experience.

“The Blind Fiddler have amazing food, all of which is cooked fresh as it is ordered. Their menu changes each day according to what they get fresh from the supplier, and having spoken to many people who said that all the food is so good, I just had to give it a try myself.

“I chose the Brisket steak and at first glance I thought it might be too rare for my taste. How wrong was I! The steak just melted in my mouth and was far better than any steak I have ever had. It was incredible.

“Thank you very much for the voucher. Had I not won your competition I might never have gone to this great pub for a meal and would have missed out on a wonderful meal.”

To book a table at The Blind Fiddler, Anstey, SG9 0BW call 01763 848000 or visit: www.facebook.com/theblindfiddler

At the beginning of September, The Hundred Parishes Society held its twelfth Annual General Meeting.

Each year we have chosen a different venue so that we can introduce members to another location they may not have visited before. Last year, for example, we went to the museum in Saffron Walden where we were given an informative guided tour.

In 2026, it was the turn of Great Waltham, one of our largest parishes and in the far south-east corner of The Hundred Parishes. Before the meeting, I took some of our members on a short walk around the centre of Great Waltham village, pointing out a few of its many ancient buildings.

We passed the fascinating 16th-century private house called Badynghams, with four spectacular original chimney stacks, and then the war memorial where the 36 men from the parish who died in the first world war and nine in WWII are remembered.

We moved on for a brief excursion into the Langleys estate, enjoying a view from the footpath of its magnificent Grade I listed Georgian mansion, built in 1719 by the Tufnell family who still own it today.

We then made our way to the parish’s Norman church, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Lawrence. Church warden David Williams introduced the group to some fascinating features, especially the splendid Everard memorial which is 400 years old. Church historian Peter Wells was unable to join us but several members purchased copies of his excellent book about Great Waltham and its church, published within the last year.

Just a short walk took us back to the village hall for refreshments and the formal part of the AGM where I and our chairman Douglas Kent were re-appointed.

Where do you think we should go next year?

www.hundredparishes.org.uk

Join Home-Start Royston, Buntingford & South Cambridgeshire for our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 21st October 2026.

Learn more about the support Home-Start provides to families in our community, celebrate our achievements, plans for the future, and hear directly from a family who has benefited from our services.

Icknield Walk First School, Royston
Refreshments from 6pm | AGM starts at 6.30pm
All are welcome.

To help us plan for refreshments and distribute AGM papers in advance, please RSVP to admin@hsrsc.org.uk by 14th October 2026