Huntingdon is set to get a little hot under the collar with its sixth popular Chilli Fest.
The event will host chilli producers exhibiting chilli products from mild to extreme hot sauces, dips, jams, cooking sauces and more.
There is plenty to eat, drink, taste and buy so bring your friends and family for a spicy day out. Admission is FREE.

Saturday 2nd October will see the first Old Riverport Ukelele Festival. A whole day of concerts, workshops, open mike sessions and more from 10am to 11pm in St Ives Corn Exchange. Labelled the Ukelele Festival of Cambridgeshire it is attracting some of the countries leading exponents of the art.

Attendance  is by purchasing a Day Ticket which costs £12. There are two children’s  workshops which are free to attend (although each child will have to  purchase a Day Ticket).

The other workshops are by the following tutors.

Matt Stead –  he is a full-time uke teacher and performer, as well as running The Uke  Room, a dedicated sales and tuition facility in the beautiful Forest of  Dean.  Matt is also the Musical Director of the National Uke Orchestra,  is DBS checked and and accredited RGT teacher.  He recently published a  highly successful book on Jazz Standards for the Uke, and has built a  huge following with his video series for beginners and intermediates on  YouTube.  His workshop will concentrate on making the Transition to  Picking – for those who have only strummed the uke, there is a whole  world of music you can make by picking individual notes, or combinations  of notes.

Peter Moss –  has been playing the uke since winning a major music prize at the age  of 12, he is a virtuoso player and teacher with a world-wide following.   I would say he has the fastest pair of hands in the West!  His  technique is impeccable, and his grasp of musical theory deep and  broad.  Peter has a significant catalogue of video tuition work on  YouTube, as most elite performers do.  Like all good teachers, he has  the knack of making it easy for his students.  Peter will run a workshop  dedicated to the Beatles’ music, using four of their songs in four  different keys, culminating in a harmony piece for those who like to put  in the extra sparkle.

Phil Doleman is  another widely known performer/writer/player with a world-wide  following.  His speciality is old-time ragtime, jazz, blues and  hokum/jug band music, playing ukulele and banjo.  Phil is another  teacher who “makes it easy” for his students.  He has published several  books on how music works for uke players, and collections of old-time  songs which he dusts off and re-presents.  Phil’s workshop for us will  be “Jazzing it Up”, where he will teach a selection of easy jazz chords  to give players an extra something to set their performances apart.

Opera-lele are  George Bartle and Amanda Harkett, both trained singers in the opera and  musical theatre genre, from the RCM and Goldsmiths College.  With their  trusty ukuleles, they have devised a musical comedy act of the highest  calibre and dazzled audiences since 2016 wherever they have performed  around the world.  As ukulele groups tend to sing the melody only,  George and Mandi will be offering a workshop to help and encourage their  group to sing Vocal Harmony lines, to build up confidence and  “pazzazz”.  Why have plain vanilla when you can have raspberry ripple?

Details of the Festival can be seen on the StIvesUkeFest Facebook page and can be booked at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/eventsstives

We invite everyone to attend the opening and dedication service of our new extension.
The preacher will be Revd Canon Julian M Pursehouse BA , BTh, MA, ,Chair of the Methodist Church East Anglia District.

Refreshments will be served following the service.

Don’t miss the annual Plough Day and Country Fayre at Ramsey Rural Museum on Sunday 3rd October 11am to 5pm.

Attractions include heavy horse and tractor ploughing, vintage vehicles, craft and trade stalls, book shop and refreshments.

Tickets include admission to the museum. https://ramseyruralmuseum.co.uk

Arts Alive would like to invite you to an event at the Arts Cafe, Commemoration Hall, Huntingdon,

We have some wonderful performers sharing their stories, poems and beautiful live music.

We are opening the doors at 6pm and you are welcome to join us that suits you.

Elizabeth & Jameson will be performing their Whitby Album.   They supported Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Band on tour and are great.

Helen Sheppard and Fay Roberts will be sharing their poems, both run workshops, open mic night and perform regularly.

The Sky Fluorescent are musicians with stunning, poetic lyrics

The evening ends with a second set by Elizabeth & Jameson.

The Arts Cafe will be open throughout the evening.

You can book your £5 tickets online www.Commhall.org or on the night.

Screen St Ives present their first October screening of Nomadland.

Director: Chloé Zhao
Runtime: 1h 48m
Certificate: 12A
Starring: Frances McDormand

Following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. The third feature film from director Chloé Zhao, NOMADLAND features real nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells as Fern’s mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West.

Tickets available on line:  https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/screenstives