Northstowe Running Festival 2024 offers races from one mile to a marathon - plus entertainment and outdoor cinema

Northstowe Running Festival returns on Saturday (31 August), with runners taking on a range of courses.

A half-marathon, 10k, 5k and family mile are all lined up for the day, along with food, drink and entertainment.

Supported by the Cambridge Independent once again, the festival will raise money for charity partners and good causes, including Cornerstone Care, Care Network Cambridgeshire, Cam Sight, Blue Smile and Northstowe and Longstanton schools.

Registration opens on the day from 8am, before Northstowe Yoga’s yoga session at 8.45am and a pre-race warm-up with shapeXchange.

The half marathon and 10K begin at 9.30am, when the fun zone also opens, while a street food market will open at 12pm.

After another pre-race warm-up at 2.15pm, the 5K race gets under way at 2.30pm, with a family mile warm-up at 3.15pm before it begins at 3.30pm.

After all the races, a children’s dance workshop with Stardust Dance will be held from 4.15pm, with live music from 4.45pm.

To finish the day, there will be outdoor cinema screenings, with the community film Northstowe Neighbours at 7.30pm and The Greatest Showman showing from 8pm.

Founder Marcin Lis said: “The festival’s offerings are unparalleled this year. Enjoy new routes featuring scenic lakes, a variety of street food, bars, a climbing wall, inflatables, yoga, live music, and an outdoor cinema – all in a single location. The Northstowe Festival of Running 2024 is an event you won’t want to miss!”

Homes England awarded Northstowe Arts CIC £7,500 from the Northstowe Community Activation Fund to help fund the big screen.

Mari O’Neill, director of Northstowe Arts CIC, said: “This funding will go some way to support our collaboration with the Northstowe Running Festival, enabling us to deliver a memorable event that helps strengthen community bonds and promote the use of the local facilities we already have here in Northstowe. We look forward to seeing families and friends gather for this special summer cinema experience.”

Visit https://northstowerunfest.co.uk/ for more details or to register to run by midnight on Wednesday (28 August)- and look out for our picture special from the day in next week’s Cambridge Independent, out from 4 September.