A three-day festival in Cambridge aims to illuminate the rich yet often overlooked history of the city’s Kite neighbourhood. Taking place from Friday to Sunday on Fitzroy Street, the Kite Festival will explore the area’s distinctive past, shaped by industrious and entrepreneurial residents since the mid-19th century.
The event, founded in 2024 by community organisation Together Culture, has gathered over 100 personal accounts from those who lived and worked in the area. Heather Thomas, the founder of Together Culture, explained the motivation behind the festival: “We thought it was the perfect time to explore what makes the Kite feel more down to earth than other parts of our city.”
The Kite derives its name from the kite-shaped parcel of land bordered by Emmanuel Road, Newmarket Road, and East Road. Unlike the university-dominated areas of Cambridge, the Kite historically attracted individuals who, according to historian Mike Levy, were “very industrious, very free-spirited, free-minded.”
Levy described the Kite’s early inhabitants as resilient and dynamic, drawn to the neighbourhood by necessity rather than privilege. “They weren’t living in the college areas; they were outside of that. As outsiders, they had a sense of do or die. They had to survive somehow,” he said. The historian likened the area to the “wild west,” highlighting the enterprising nature of its early residents.
Organised in collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University and The Cambridge Room, and supported by the Heritage Fund, the festival seeks to uncover and share these untold stories. Organisers promise an immersive experience featuring live performances, interactive exhibits, and thought-provoking discussions that will bring the past to life for attendees.
