In the absence of Kentish Town’s Alma Street Fair this year, this annual street party hidden away in Dartmouth Park is about as close as you’re gonna get to a similar sense of community spirit (not to mention joie-de-vivre).
And it’s back again this Sunday. There are, of course, the usual local craft beer and streetfood stalls, and the lovely folks at Truffles Deli will be on hand with a reviving Campari (or Aperol, if you must) Spritz, wine-by-the-glass and cans of Beavertown (oh, and the usual charcuterie and cheeses).
All along the packed street there are always sights to behold: the legendary Dad’s Disco Dance-Off, for which the crying-with-laughter emoji was invented, as well as musical chairs, an NW5 “groovy mutt” contest, a fancy dress parade, pub quiz, and old time singsong led by St Pancras’s pearly queen.
Wanna just grab a pint and watch a band? Well, this year there are two stages of live music and entertainment, headlined by The Estimators. Plus local ledge Dan Carrier’s riotous Dig It Sound System, of course.
More delicate souls might prefer the hat-making session, and there’s a giant community collage where you’re invited to draw a picture of the house or flat you live in.
Most exciting though of all? The street party marks some very welcome news: local pub the Dartmouth Arms, which closed two years ago, is being born again after new publican Andy Bird (who runs Happiness Forgets in Hoxton and Stoke Newington’s Original Sin) took on the lease last month. While the pub is renovated, he’ll be hosting a pop-up bar on Sunday to meet the neighbours.
And finally, there are good causes to support, naturally. Each year the street party chooses local charity to raise funds for: this time it’s the Friends of Highgate Library, to help re-stock the Chester Road children’s library with new books and toys.
Which all sounds like one mahoosive excuse to party – as if you need one.
1 thought on “York Rise – the summer’s last festival gasp?”
Wow you made it sound even exciting! Traditionally this event, I wouldn’t call it party, has not been more than a mix of a car boot sale and a charity shop in a stretch of about 200 yards between the Chetwynd and Dartmouth Park roads, with a bit of help of the 4 food businesses around, 3 left now. A community event would be a more appropriate name. Don’t come with high expectations, however, there are always options around.