On Friday 1 December, CSCI celebrated our second annual Christmas Market at the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre.
Partnering with our neighbours at Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and Cambridge Biomedical Campus, and with volunteers from The Milner Therapeutics Institute and Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease, the Institute welcomed over 700 visitors from nearby communities, departments and hospitals on campus, and further afield to celebrate the start to the holiday season.
Event staff dressed in elf hats for the day. Pictured: Laura Puhl (CSCI), Agnes Lukasik (CSCI), Gill Wilson (CBC), Monique Hodges (CRUK-CI), Rachel Acland (CSCI), Jacqui Davidson (CSCI) and Chloe Annison (CSCI).
The market started at 2pm and was kicked off by Sing! Choirs, a community choir with researchers from CSCI and members of the Cambridge community. Once the music subsided the shopping began in earnest, with over 30 local vendors selling goods, from local honey and hand-painted greeting cards, chocolate and marshmallows, crocheted decorations, and science-inspired jewellery. Outdoors on the sunny winter day, guests were able to select from a variety of food trucks and mulled wine. (See a list of some of the vendors here).
Food vans on the day. Clockwise from top left: Teapod, Waffle + Co, Hot Sausage Company. Not pictured: Rotisseroll.
In lieu of a stall fee, vendors donated goods to be raffled off to charity (CRUK and Cameron Grant Memorial Trust), which raised almost £300.
At 5pm, Father Christmas arrived at Santa's grotto, tucked back into CRUK's festive gallery, where dozens of children lined up to meet him.
Santa's Grotto signage, Christmas tree, and Santa at CRUK-CI.
After the market closed, CRUK hosted a special Open Mic night with drinks, popcorn, and local musicians.
We'll be back next year for more!