Festival triumphs despite drizzle

Despite the cloudy weather hundreds turned out to Saturday’s EC1 Summer Festival and rain showers failed to dampen spirits. King Square Gardens was in full festival mode with fete stalls, music and dancing, children’s rides and a colourful samba parade. 

Local residents enjoyed entertainment from Swing Feet swing dancers, Clerkenwell School of Ballet and Whittington Steel Band on the main stage – and lots more attractions in the rest of the park. In a tranquil corner, Epping Forest Hawks and Owls mesmerised spectators, St Luke’s Time Bank team offered free massage and creativity was expressed with giant knitting and willow weaving. In the DJ Tent talented MCs and singers from EC1 Music Project and LSO St Luke’s Digital Tech’ Group impressed the audience, and a giant human table football game encouraged team spirit as well as testing ball control skills. Visitors could even pick up handy gardening and bike maintenance tips from St Luke’s Community gardener and Islington Council’s Y Team respectively.

Vice-chair of the EC1 New Deal for Communities board, Penny Seal, who spoke at the event, said:

“This is the seventh EC1 Summer Festival produced by EC1 New Deal for Communities, and it has been truly shaped by what local people want. From the teas and cakes served up by St Clements Church, the competition in schools to design the festival poster, to the performances on stage and the huge variety of fete stalls – the EC1 Summer Festival is a genuine community event that many residents look forward to every year.”

The EC1 Summer Festival 2009 was funded by EC1 New Deal for Communities and run in partnership with the St Luke’s Centre.