After an arduous academic year, students are ready for a memorable night of fanciful fun. To celebrate the end of the academic year, the colleges of the University of Cambridge host May Balls.
May Balls are intended to be memorable celebrations with an unrivalled showcase of revelry and opulence. Here’s what you need to know about the May Balls.
What is the May Ball?
The May Ball is an extravagant white tie or black tie event where students celebrate the end of the academic period with their friends.
Though the balls were originally held in May, they’re now held in May Week. May Week is actually in June and starts on the second Thursday after the end of exams.
Colleges host their balls onsite and start them between 6 and 9 p.m. It’s common for May Balls to last until after dawn. Many of the Balls have a theme that ensures everything (including décor and entertainment) is cohesive and adds to the lavishness of the evening.
Some colleges host a less expensive variation of a May Ball known as a June Event.
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What Elements Do May Balls Include?
May Balls usually have food, alcoholic beverages, glamorous decorations, and live entertainment. Other activities may be held throughout the night, like fireworks, a punting trip, and dancing.
Some items associated with the Cambridge May Ball include:
Punting past Trinity May Ball
Lavish Five-Course Feast
Many Ball attendees enjoy a lavish five-course feast that’s included in the price of a ticket. This feast includes a variety of dishes that may be catered to the theme of the May Ball.
Trinity Boat Club
The First and Third Trinity Boat Club May Ball, also referred to as the Trinity May Ball, has the distinction of being the first May Ball held at Cambridge.
A celebration that began in 1838 after the Trinity Boat Club won the May Bumps (rowing races held annually on the River Cam) became the inspiration for the May Ball. The first official Trinity May Ball was held in 1866 and the idea soon spread to the other colleges.
White tie is the preferential dress code at the First and Third Boat Club May Ball, but black-tie attire is also acceptable. This May Ball runs from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and includes a “Survivor’s photo” of the individuals who make it to the dawn hours and a champagne reception that serves the alcoholic beverage from a punt filled with ice.
Attendees also dine on oysters, listen to live music, and celebrate with a firework extravaganza.
Stunning Fireworks Display
No May Ball is complete without a stunning fireworks display. These lavish celebration fireworks are often over-the-top, as colleges seek to outdo one another. One of the best ways to view some of the most spectacular fireworks displays is from a punt.
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Questions About the May Balls
Here are some questions frequently asked about May Balls.
Does Cambridge Have a May Ball?
Cambridge does have a May Ball, and the May Balls at the various Cambridge colleges are often large, glamorous affairs.
The Cambridge May Balls have been cancelled a few times since they became an annual event in 1866.
In 1910, they were cancelled due to the death of King Edward VII. They were cancelled between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War, and they were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Which Cambridge Colleges Have May Balls?
The following Cambridge colleges have May Balls annually:
- Clare
- Darwin
- Robinson
- Hughes Hall
- Jesus
- St. Edmunds
- Trinity
- St. Johns
- Wolfson
These Cambridge colleges hold May Balls every two years:
- Corpus Christi
- Christs’s
- Downing
- Girton
- Gonville and Caius
- Homerton
- Newnham
- Magdalene
- Pembroke
- Emmanuel
- Queens’
- Sidney Sussex
- Selwyn
- St. Catharine’s
Some colleges do occasionally adjust their May Ball schedule.
Does Newnham Have a May Ball?
Newnham is one of the Cambridge colleges that has a May Ball. However, they alternate the May Ball with a June Event.
Why Does the College Organise the May Ball?
There are multiple reasons that colleges organise May Balls. May Balls are a tradition for students and their friends who want to celebrate and let loose after spending months devoted to their academic work.
Students look forward to all the amazing events associated with the balls, as the evening is one of Cambridge University’s most notable social events.
Fireworks over Cambridge during May week
Which Cambridge Colleges Have the Best Balls?
Which Cambridge College has the best balls depends on your preferences. The Trinity Ball is one of the most popular balls thanks to the unrivalled showcase of revelry (a ticket includes unlimited beverages and food, a stunning fireworks display, and world-class entertainment).
The Magdalene and Peterhouse balls are exclusive white tie events that require the most formal attire. Magdalene’s ball is also known for offering exquisite cuisine, while the Peterhouse Ball has a Ferris wheel.
The Clare May Ball often offers a terrific entertainment line up and is situated on the River Cam.
Homerton hosts the first ball during May Week and also has the distinction of being one of the cheaper events to attend.
St. Edmunds hosts the last ball during May Week and is a popular event with postgraduates.
How Much is the Cambridge May Ball?
The cost of attending a Cambridge Ball depends on the specific college, but ticket prices are usually between £100 and £640 for a pair of tickets.
This expense is all-inclusive and covers food, beverages (including alcoholic beverages), and entertainment. Ball attendees also have to pay for their formal attire and accessories.
Colleges usually pay between £100,000 and £400,000 for expenses associated with throwing the May Ball.
