North London Food & Culture

MUST DO: local free festival spesh

It's that time of year again. So here are two for this weekend - and a couple for the diary

THIS SATURDAY: a brand new Kentish Town Festival

Flyer for the new festival. Photo: KTCC
Flyer for the new festival. Photo: KTCC

The summer is deffo here now, right? And that can only mean one thing. Just a mere moment after the recent Fleet and keeping the seat warm before the mighty Alma Street Fair (July 5th) is this free bash organised by Kentish Town Community Centre and Greene & Co. Proposing to be a family-friendly music and arts event celebrating the “diversity and uniqueness” of the area, it starts at the centre itself (17 Busby Place), and stretches right down into leafy Cantelowes Gardens: expect live music, workshops, food and craft stalls, a baking competition, youth sports tournament, raffle and a children’s parade. Busby Place, Saturday 6th of June, 1pm – 6.30pm 

THIS SATURDAY: a Free Market Fayre at The Star

Let's hope the sun truly shines this Sat: the Star's 3rd birthday. Photo: Star
Let’s hope the sun truly shines this Sat: the Star’s 3rd birthday. Photo: Star

One of the neighbourhood’s most perfect Victorian boozers celebrates its third birthday with owner Duncan at the helm. And he’s pulling out all the stops with a Free Market Fayre. Which means basically that there’s “tons of free stuff” from all their suppliers: free beer, free wine, free gin from Highgate distillery Sacred – and perhaps even a free BBQ (you’ll have to head along to find out). And, of course, there’s a load of stuff for the kids, from face-painting to a raffle. More for the grown-ups? Old-fashioned pursuits like darts, skittles and “beer pong”, plus an exhibition from the pub’s resident artists upstairs. Stick around in the evening and brace your (tipsy) self for live music from a trio of bands, a pub singalong and the inevitable party DJ. 47 Chester Road N19, 12midday-6pm, evening bash 6pm-1am

NEXT SATURDAY: Highgate Fair in the Square

Highgate's biggest annual event is next weekend. Photo: Harringay online
Highgate’s biggest annual event is next weekend. Photo: Harringay online

We ‘fess up – we’ve never been, but we hear that it’s quite the north London institution, with thousands of (probably fairly polite) revellers all going bananas for the live music, food stalls and kiddie activities. Expect lots of trad performers like Morris Dancers, Punch and Judy and an enigmatic ‘Sheep Show’. There’s also a circus, local choirs, dancers and musicians, and over 100 stalls lining the streets selling crafts, plants, clothes, books and – of course – international foods. Pond Square, Saturday 13 June 2015, 12.30-5.30


Leave a Comment

Leave a Comment

About Kentishtowner

The award-winning print and online title Kentishtowner was founded in 2010 and is part of London Belongs To Me, a citywide network of travel guides for locals. For more info on what we write about and why, see our About section.