Celebrating its golden milestone, the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) Cambridge Beer Festival is set to welcome around 40,000 attendees as it marks its 50th anniversary year.
Since its inaugural event in 1974, the festival has been a beloved tradition for real ale enthusiasts, remaining a steadfast fixture with only occasional cancellations due to coronavirus lockdowns.
Taking place from May 20 to 25 on Jesus Green in the city, this year’s festival boasts an impressive lineup of over 200 British real ales sourced from approximately 100 breweries, alongside ciders, perries, mead, and wine.
In anticipation of unpredictable weather, organizers have ensured ample indoor tented areas to accommodate all visitors comfortably.
To commemorate the festival’s 50th anniversary, new designs have been crafted for the collectible beer glasses, reflecting on the journey through the years. Clare Kenward, a member of the festival site team, elaborated on the designs, noting one that depicts people reminiscing over their collection of glasses and another featuring a retro design harking back to the festival’s 40th year.
Deputy organizer Bert Kenward expressed excitement about the event, assuring attendees of a delightful selection of beers from top-notch breweries, with a particular emphasis on local providers.
“We tend to buy quite a lot of beer from our local providers – quite a lot from East Anglia but quite a lot from the rest of the country – so there’s a bias towards the local ones, but it’s not solely local,” he emphasized.
Originally an indoor event until the late 1980s, the festival has evolved into an outdoor affair, finding its current home on Jesus Green since 2001.
Clare Kenward, responsible for the festival’s meticulous planning, has been overseeing the finer details, including ensuring facilities are in top condition for attendees’ comfort.
The festival also continues its tradition of supporting a charity each year, with this year’s beneficiary being the Cambridge Women’s Resources Centre, a community charity dedicated to empowering and educating women seeking positive change for themselves and their families.
