Eid Festival 2019 London: Date, time and everything you need to know about the Trafalgar Square event

Holy celebrations: The crowds gather for Eid Festival in Trafalgar Square (PA Archive/PA Images)
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Harry Fletcher6 June 2019

Millions of people around the world are celebrating Eid ul-Fitr this week, marking the end of Ramadan.

London is hosting a special event to see in the end of the Muslim holy month, welcoming thousands of people to Trafalgar Square on Saturday June 8.

The religious occasion, the festival of breaking the fast, sees Muslims enjoy a large meal and enter into the spirit of forgiveness and goodwill.

Eid ul-Fitr takes place according to the lunar Islamic calander, and because the moon was partly visible in London on the evening of Monday June 3, the celebrations began in earnest on Tuesday June 4.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will host this Saturday’s event, which is attended by thousands of people in the capital every year.

The festival will feature live music and entertainment on the main stage, as well as street food stalls and family activities.

Here’s everything you need to know about Eid festival in Trafalgar Square.

Eid al-Fitr 2019 - In pictures

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Date and time

Trafalgar Square will be transformed for the celebrations, with the event taking place from noon to 6pm on Saturday June 8.

Street food

There will be food on offer at the festival, with the likes of Bamboo House, Bombay Street Food and Darlish Ice Cream serving customers on the day. One of London’s most celebrated chefs, Asma Khan of Darjeeling Express, will also speak to the crowd.

Live music and entertainment line-up

The line-up on the main stage will be hosted by broadcaster Dr Myriam Francois and comedian Abdullah Afzal.

  • 12pm – Opening prayer from the verse of Ramadan
  • 12.10pm – Koroleko Band
  • 12.30pm – Lila Bhawa
  • 1pm – Ismaili Community Ensemble
  • 1.20pm – Q&A: Asma Khan
  • 1.30pm – Chand Ali Khan Qawaal and Party
  • 1.55pm – Lila Bhawa
  • 2.10pm – Speeches
  • 2.30pm – Al-Sadiq and Al-Zahra School Choir
  • 2.45pm – Q&A: Refugee Week
  • 2.55pm – Refugee Week: Spoken Word Poetry
  • 3.10pm – Refugee Week: Raghad Haddad and Hamsa Mounif
  • 3.50pm – Refugee Week: Muslim Belal 
  • 4.15pm – Q&A: Penny Appeal
  • 4.25pm – Alman Nusrat
  • 5pm – Iman Ferrer
  • 5.30pm – Muad

Facilities

Segregated prayer space will be available in the south east corner of the square, although there will be no ablution facilities on site.

Tickets

The event is totally free and guests do not require a ticket to attend.

For more information, head here

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