Celebrate our hidden stories.
Create a radical culture of change.
Join the celebration.
The Kite Festival celebrates the hidden history of Cambridge’s most dynamic neighbourhood. Once a hub of ingenuity, resilience, and collaboration, The Kite’s story continues to inspire us today. Join us for three days of immersive experiences, live performances, and bold conversations that bring the past to life and help shape what comes next.
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Join us as we unveil this digital tool developed by ARU’s StoryLab. Explore Cambridge’s past, reflect on its present, and imagine its future.
The Navigator is the result of months of collaboration with local residents, workers, and visitors who shared over 100 stories about what makes The Kite so unique. Shaped by many of you—and now inviting you to explore—the Navigator is reimagined as a multimedia installation designed by ARU Digital Media students working with the ARU StoryLab.
Drop in to Together Culture, 15 Fitzroy Street, throughout the festival to experience it firsthand and be part of this evolving history.
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Join Together Culture and The Cambridge Room for a series of three immersive conversations exploring how we can bridge the Town and Gown divide.
The Kite has long demonstrated resilience in the face of inequality, developing independently from the University and often excluded from its resources. In autumn 2024, we gathered over 100 stories from local people, with three themes emerging: Land, Power, and Change.
Conversation 1: LAND
Friday 7 February, 3pm - 4.30pm
Meet at 15 Fitzroy Street (walking to Jesus College, dress warmly)Conversation 2: POWER
Saturday 8 February, 12pm - 1.30pm
15 Fitzroy StreetConversation 3: CHANGE
Sunday 9 February, 12.30pm - 2pm
15 Fitzroy StreetWhat to expect:
Each session opens with a live historical reenactment—an actor sharing a story from the past in conversation with someone from today. A facilitator will then guide thoughtful discussions, inspired by principles used in global truth and reconciliation processes.
Join one, two, or all three sessions:
Each session offers unique perspectives, with some spanning key locations in The Kite and Jesus College to explore proximity and privilege.
EVERYONE is welcome:
Diverse voices make the conversation richer and more impactful. This could be the start of a new blueprint for a more equitable Cambridge.
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Step back in time as we recreate the iconic Waffles café, the heart of The Kite community in the 1980s. More than just a café, this treasured institution was a space where town and gown met to share ideas, forge connections, and shape the neighbourhood’s identity during a transformative era. It was also a focal point of The Kite during the 1970s, when The Kite Community Forum rallied to protect the area’s culture from redevelopment.
Do you have memories of Waffles, or just love a warm, tasty treat topped with chantilly? Join us at this special pop-up where we’ll celebrate the spirit of connection, conversation, and community—one delicious waffle at a time.
15 Fitzroy Street
Saturday 8 February: 10am - 2pm
Sunday 9 February: 12pm - 3pm -
Wrap up The Kite Festival in spectacular style. Join us for a celebratory kite flying event where we’ll write our hopes and dreams for the future of this treasured neighbourhood on colourful kites. Kites will be provided free for all, or bring your own and let your dreams soar!
Sunday 9 February, 2.15pm – 3pm
Meet on the patch of green beyond the cow gate near the Maid’s Causeway entrance on Midsummer Common
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Explore even more ways to connect, learn, and celebrate throughout the festival weekend.
Street Theatre & Live Art
Sat 11am – 1pm | Sun 12pm – 2pm
15 Fitzroy Street
Meet historical figures brought to life by actors sharing The Kite’s inspiring stories.Social Value Mapping
Sat 10am – 1pm
15 Fitzroy Street
Share your thoughts on how wellbeing can shape The Kite’s future in this interactive project.Happy Board Game Hour
Sat 10am – 12pm
15 Fitzroy Street
All ages welcome! Meet your neighbours and enjoy classic games together.Mindful Neighbourhood Walk
Sat 11am – 12pm
Meet at 15 Fitzroy Street
Slow down, breathe, and see The Kite in a new light on this guided walk.Garden of Eden Design Challenge
Sat 11.30am – 1pm | Sun 12pm – 1.30pm
15 Fitzroy Street
Help design a new community garden and learn about sustainable gardening inspired by The Kite’s history.
The hidden stories you’ve been sharing.
The people of The Kite have shared powerful stories of courage, creativity, and community spirit that reveal the heart of this neighbourhood. These voices highlight four key themes that have shaped The Kite: Socially Progressive, Connected to Nature, Creatively Expressive, and Collaboratively Entrepreneurial.
Daisy Hopkins
Socially Progressive
"They locked her up—no trial, no defence—just for walking with an undergraduate. But her family fought back, taking the University to the high court. They won, and Daisy Hopkins became a national figure in a scandal that shook society." – Mike Levy
The Garden of Eden
Connected to Nature
"I remember when you’d see cows being herded right down Fitzroy Street. It wasn’t strange back then—just part of life. Nature was part of us, part of the streets, not something separate from the city." – John Clements
The Festival Theatre
Creatively Expressive
"It was one of those places where you could try things that felt risky. People weren’t afraid to fail or be different. That old theatre held space for ideas that didn’t fit anywhere else in Cambridge." – Theo Sayer
William Heffer
Collaboratively Entrepreneurial
"The vicar said, ‘I believe in you, William.’ And with that trust, he gave him a shop and stock to get started. That’s what made the difference—someone in the community who saw potential and gave him the chance." – Richard Heffer
Why The Kite Festival Matters.
Uncover the untold stories that shaped our community. Discover a rich history of resilience, creativity, and cooperation through immersive and interactive exhibits.
Engage with vibrant live events and dynamic experiences. From street theatre to music and kite flying, the festival offers a unique blend of celebration and reflection.
Leave inspired and empowered to create change. Whether it’s joining Together Culture or starting your own project, you’ll leave equipped with ideas and energy to shape the future.
Why Together Culture works.
Together Culture is a community interest company founded to help Cambridge thrive. By creating spaces for collaboration, creativity, and experimentation, we empower people to take bold steps toward a fairer and more inclusive future. By the community, for the community, we believe local action can spark global change—and we’re just getting started.
Local roots.
Bold ideas.
And all ours.
What people are saying about Together Culture.
"For the first time I realised we have a choice to live in autopilot mode or create what doesn't exist yet."
Niketa
"To me, it's about citizenship—not being a consumer. There's a palpable sense of possibility in the air, a feeling of a movement whose time has come."
Peter
"I wanted to be connected with people and know we had fundamental shared values. I’m not feeding some big exclusive corporate engine – this place enhances my wellbeing."
Antoinette
Celebrate our hidden stories.
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Our members are shaping the future, today and every day.
Join Together Culture and create a radical culture of change.
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage.
Let’s Go Fly the Kite is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to engage our community in rediscovering, sharing, and celebrating a story of Cambridge in which those who have been socio-economically marginalised can identify.
