A special community cold water swimming event will take place at Jesus Green Lido in central Cambridge on Saturday 14th March to raise money for Arthur Rank Hospice. The inaugural Festival of Chill is being organised by a group of dedicated all-year-round swimmers and is supported by the Friends of Jesus Green Lido volunteer committee and the Lido’s management team, Better.
Set at the beautiful 100-yard Jesus Green Lido – Britain’s joint longest outdoor swimming pool – the Festival of Chill will bring together swimmers, spectators, and supporters for a lively morning of cold water swimming races, food and stalls, all celebrating the cold water swimming community.
A packed programme will include individual swimming races of either one or two lengths, relay races for teams of four, and the option to race with or without wetsuits. There will be prizes across a range of categories, including a relay for over-60s swimmers and a fancy-dress relay race, with a prize for the best costume. Free use of the lido’s sauna is included for all participants.
The lido café kiosk will be open throughout the morning, serving hot drinks, breakfast options and soup to warm swimmers and spectators. Local pizza will be available from Scott’s on Mill Road. A raffle and a homemade cake stall will also help raise additional funds for the hospice.
The event will conclude with a brief but bracing synchronised swimming performance from the almost-famous Lido Centenary Cygnets, providing a fittingly chilly finale to the celebration.
Commenting on the event, Danya Harris, one of the festival organisers, said: “Last year, a group of regular Jesus Green swimmers tried to enter the Cold Water Swimming Championships at Tooting Bec – the other longest lido in the country. However, it was sold out – so we decided to organise our own for 2026. In the end, we managed to get into the Tooting event via the waiting list – but by that point the seed had been planted. We’ve been busy organising our Festival of Chill ever since and are thrilled to have sold out 70% of race places already. So, if you don’t want to miss out, be quick! We’re keen for people of all swimming abilities to take part even if they think they’re ‘too slow to race’. We’d love the event to be about the buzz of cold water swimming, and new friendships, as much as about winning races.”
For full information about race categories and to purchase tickets to swim at the event, go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jesus-green-lido-festival-of-chill-tickets-1979667833782
Prices for individual swimmers are £12 per person. Tickets for a team of four to compete in the relay races cost: £40.
All profits from the organisation of the Festival of Chill will support Arthur Rank Hospice, which provides vital care for people across Cambridgeshire. Members of the public are warmly invited to take part, cheer on swimmers, or simply enjoy the atmosphere and support the fundraising effort.
For more information, please email: festivalofchill@jesusgreenlido.org
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For more information, interviews, or to organise broadcast / photo opportunities at the event, please contact: Natalie@may-fifteen.co.uk / 07714 766106
Notes to editors:
The Friends of Jesus Green Lido was formed in the late 1980s as a group of swimmers with a shared love of the pool and a commitment to working together to secure its future and its special environment. In 2018 the Friends of Jesus Green Lido Committee was established to work closely with Cambridge City Council, which owns the site, and Better (GLL), the social enterprise which manages the pool. In May 2023 the Friends of Jesus Green Lido charity was established. For more information about the Friends of Jesus Green go to: https://jesusgreenlido.org/the-friends-of-jesus-green-lido/
About Better
Better is the consumer facing brand for GLL. Established in 1993, GLL is the largest UK-based charitable social enterprise delivering leisure, health and community services. Operating under the Better brand, it manages 250 public sport and leisure centres, 113 libraries and 10 children’s centres in partnership with 70 local councils, public agencies and sporting organisations. www.better.org.uk