Is it hot? Is it cold? The forecast’s looking good for the weekend so get out (even strip off) with your kids in town and enjoy the best of London for families…
Street Feast Closing Party, City of London Festival Children’s Parade, London Dragon Boat Festival, Music for Little Ears and Voices, Feast in the Fields, SunWalk London and an Independence Day Picnic in Portman Square!
Enjoy x
Fri: City of London Festival Children’s Parade, Guildhall Yard, EC1 (Mansion House tube)
A thousand children will parade through the city, embodying a fantastical forest on the move with dance, music, sculpture and a final performance on the steps of St. Paul’s. Come along and make some noise! 12.45-1.30pm, FREE (Jun 28)
Fri-Sat: Street Feast @ Merchant Yard Closing Party, 317-319 Kingsland Rd, E8 (Haggerston overground)
They’re shutting it down properly at Merchant Yard with the final Street Feast on Friday, featuring all your favourite traders including our own Big Apple Hot Dogs, Yum Bun, The Bowler and more. Then on Saturday from noon you’re invited to ‘eat and drink the place dry’, with a mini Ribstock planned (ribs galore, oh my!), a mobile Margarita machine, ceviche, Disco Bistro ‘akita’ dogs and much more! It’s great food in a cool, family-friendly atmosphere. Don’t miss it. 5pm-midnight (Fri) and 12-10pm (Sat), FREE entry (Jun 28-29)
Sat: Frogprince Baby Music in Victoria Park, The Hub, E9 (Hackney Wick overground)
Now every Saturday in the park, Frogprince Baby is a fun musical event for little children curated by multi-instrumentalist Stefano Antoci D’Agostino aka Stead and based on the most popular songs and nursery rhymes for children. Little ones and their carers are invited to shake, rattle and roll to music from all cultures. 10am and 11am, adult £5/child FREE. Also on Weds in Hackney City Farm and Surrey Docks Farm. (Jun 29, ongoing)
Sat-Sun: Toddle in the City, Shoreditch, E1 (Liverpool St tube)
Join the team at Urban Beings for a Toddle in the City around the most distinctive buildings and hidden gems in Shoreditch. Toddle in the City is a treasure hunt for kids ages 3 to 6, where they’re armed with a camera and a sense of adventure. 1pm (Sat) and 4pm (Sun); adult + child team £15 (includes use of camera and 3 best photos) (Jun 29-30)
Sat-Sun: Feast in the Fields, The Brewhouse, Railway Arches 369-370 Helmsley Place, E8 (Hackney Central overground/Bethnal Green tube)
A two-day smorgasbord of the best in street food, bespoke beers, gelato, live music and East London trendies. The monthly gathering features a rotating menu of street stall lovelies with this weekend starring Vinn Goute, You Doughnut, Wild Game, Arancini, Jimmy Garcia and Rebel Bakery among the traders. Music from Odran Trummel, Bard, McGowan’s and TJ Johnson. Kids come free and there’s the whole of London Fields to roam if they get restless after! 12pm-2am, adult Feast entry £3/early bird Beer & food ticket adv. £7/door £9/child FREE (Ju 29-30)
Sat-Sun: Music for Little Ears and Voices at White Room, Spirit Level, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, SE1 (Waterloo/Embankment)
As part of the Festival of Neighbourhood, Early Years music specialist Michele Wolfson leads a series of interactive music making for young ‘uns and their grown-up accompanists. 10.30-11.15am, 11.30-12.15am, 1.30-2.15pm, 2.30-3.15pm, 4.00-4.45pm, FREE (Jun 29-30)
Sun: London Dragon Boat Festival, Dockside Rd, E16 (Royal Albert DLR)
Sample a taste of the far east at this exciting aquatic spectacle. There will be Chinese Lion and dragon dancing, food festival, live music, children’s games and of course the stunning dragon boats battling it out for top spot. 11.30am-6pm, FREE entry (Jun 30)
Sun: Independence Day Picnic at Portman Square, W1 (Bond St tube)
Celebrate the 4th of July almost a week early in the atmospheric setting of Portman Square. Wave your flag and party to the sounds of rock, folk, classical and jazz bands and enjoy a mouthwatering selection of food from all over the world. Supervised games for kids planned. 12-5pm, adult £12.50/child 6-16 £3.50/under 6s FREE (Jun 30)
Sun: SunWalk London, Battersea Park, SW11 (Sloane Square tube/Battersea Park rail)
Get on the good foot for the SunWalk in Battersea Park where Andy and Syd from CBeebies will be throwing a Big Party among other family entertainment including clowns, stiltwalkers, circus acts, dancing, food stalls and more. Plus thousands of women, men and kids in colourful bras walking the walk to help beat breast cancer. From 8am, FREE entry (Jun 30)
Sat-Sun: Charlie & Lola’s Extremely New Play at Polka Theatre
The ever popular brother and sister duo are back with a brand new production, blending music, puppetry and laughs. Follow Charlie and best friend Marv, Lola and best friend Lotta and of course Sizzles the dog on a magical new adventure. For ages 4+, apart from special Watch with Baby shows for under 4s. Shows from 10.30am (times and dates vary); £15/concs. £11/£10 Saver Shows: 4 May 4 (12.30pm), May 29 (11am, Watch with Baby show), Jun 23 (3.30pm), Aug 1 (2.30pm, Watch with Baby show), Aug 13 (11am) (Apr 27-Aug 17)
LOCAL PICK
Fri-Sun: Zoo Nation: Some like it Hip Hop at Sadlers Wells, Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, WC2 (Holborn tube)
The astounding Zoo Nation wrap up their gravity-defying, breakneck street dance extravaganza this weekend. Blending comedy, choreography, Shakespeare’s 12 Night and Billy Wilder’s Some Like it Hot, this acclaimed show promises a feel-good evening out. Ages 5+ welcome, recommended for ages 7+. 7.30pm (Fri & Tue), 2.30pm & 7.30pm (Sat & Sun); £12-£38 (1/2 price tickets for child on £30-£38 seats) (until Jun 30)
We also like
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, (ends Fri); explore a kingdom of money in Theatre Rites: Bank on It at Barbican Centre (Sat, until Jul 14); Sadler’s Wells Sampled mini-festival of dance (until Jul 7); Sensational Butterflies at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 (thru Apr-Sep 15); BBC Summer of Wildlife Day at London Wetlands Centre, in Barnes SW13 (Sun)
Image via Walk the Walk
