10 great local festivals in London

Every London postcode holds a summer celebration. Lucy McKay chooses 10 worth crossing town for
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Lucy McKay12 July 2013

The eyes of the world might be elsewhere after the big events of last summer but London 2013 is more about local festivities than global ones.

Celebrations of the capital as a world city with food, music and carnivals will be taking place in Leyton and Ealing. Live music events in Camden and Shoreditch will bring top acts from the summer’s big festivals to your doorstep. Top comedy at the Camden Fringe and Balham Festival will save you the trip to Edinburgh.

For kids there are farm animals, donkey rides and owl displays in Lambeth as well as loads of fun workshops and shows at many of the listed events. And Streatham will be looking back to the “glamour days” of more traditional British fun with vintage dances and tea parties.

The best part is that most events are super-cheap or even free, so beat the post-Olympic blues with another great summer in the city. Here are 10 worth making the trip across town to enjoy.


Balham Comedy Festival

The Bedford, until Sat Jul 13

Comics including Lucy Porter, Ed Byrne and Mark Steel warm up for the Edinburgh Fringe at this festival.

Ealing Summer Festivals

Walpole Park, until Sun Jul 28

Three weeks of carnivals, live jazz and blues, comedy, an outdoor cinema and even a four-day beer festival.

East End Live

Various East London locations, Sat Jul 13

This one-day event showcases 60 of the festival season’s ones-to-watch in gigs dotted around 12 venues.

5pm-5am, £15 advance ticket (£20 on the day), eastendlive.com

Camden Lock Live

Camden Lock, Sat Jul 13

Camden’s usual buzz will be boosted with live music from exciting newcomers and a floating cocktail bar’s tasting tour.

Sat Jul 13, 10am-10pm, free, camdenlockmarket.com

Shoreditch Festival

Hoxton Street, Jul 13-14

The Shoreditch Trust will take over Hoxton Street for a big party. Expect free theatre, music and art as well as local food, beer and crafts stalls.

Sat (noon-6pm) and Sun (noon-8.30pm), free, shoreditchtrust.org.uk/Shoreditch-Festival

Leyton Big Weekender

Leyton Cricket Ground, Jul 13-14

A family event with children’s film screenings on Saturday and a Caribbean Carnival on Sunday.

Streatham Festival

Various Streatham loacations, until Sun Jul 14

Lipstick and dancing shoes are recommended for the “glamour days”- themed festival with workshops, classic film screenings, arts and dance in venues around Streatham.

Lambeth Country Show

Brockwell Park, Jul 20-21

A big British countryside festival that combines farm animals with music stages playing soul and ska, street food and picnic areas, plus face painting and rides for kids.

Open East Festival

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Jul 27-28

One year on, the Olympic Park is reopening to host a family-friendly festival of music, performance art, food and family activities. The Waterboys headline, or see Jeremy Deller’s inflatable Stonehenge, Joey from War Horse, the Art Car Boot Fair and Real Food festival.

1.30-10pm, £6-£9.50, queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk

Camden Fringe

Various Camden locations, Jul 29-Aug 25

A far less daunting and cheaper alternative to the Edinburgh Fringe, this independent festival will be filling the venues of Camden with theatre, comedy, music, dance and poetry.

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