Thamesmead festival

From the organisers, Peabody: "Once again we’re working closely with the Thamesmead Festival Production Group – 14 local residents who are leading on the organisation of the fun-filled day. The festival will be delivered by live events producer Serious, which has have extensive experience in producing large-scale outdoor events and also successfully delivered the Thamesmead Festival in 2021.

This year’s event will see the return of its three main stages – the Park Stage, up on the hill, hosted by Fusion; the Southmere Stage on Southmere Square, hosted by BBC radio DJ Jumoké Fashola and the more informal Unplugged Stage among the leafy trees in Southmere Park, which will be hosted by comedian and filmmaker Riordan Tyson.

Confirmed music acts include south London-raised singer Samm Henshaw, globally-renowned jazz trumpeter Byron Wallen, Chicago-style harmonica blues from Old Boys Blues Band, poetic hip-hop musician Deesense, soul and jazz vocalist J Cocoa and rapper, singer-songwriter Jules among many others, with Radio Thamesmead DJs (RTM.fm) keeping the music flowing throughout the day in between sets.

Dance highlights for 2022 include Britain’s Got Talent street-dance champions Twist and Pulse, performances from Thamesmead-based dance troupe Dynamix and Greenwich Dance, who recently relocated to the newly built community building, The Nest, in Cygnet Square. Dance forms an integral part of the programme, reflecting the popularity of the artform within the community, with globally renowned Thamesmead-raised rapper ENNY recently describing how joining a local street dance group as a child helped shape an early interest in music.

Community stalls run by local groups and charities providing information about the work they do will run throughout the day – including Freedom Network, Counselling Matters Bexley, Parent Power Education, Healthwatch Greenwich, West Thamesmead Community Association and Bexley Fostering among others. Free workshops and activities for children and adults – from drumming and making workshops to inflatable goal post penalty shoot-outs – will run throughout the day.

To top the day off, a mouth-watering menu of locally produced global cuisine and drink will be available, with this year’s offering includes Peter’s Panas serving the best Venezualan gluten-free arepas in London, tasty Jamaican eats from The Caribbean Hut, Nigerian cuisine from Yeti’s Authentic Kitchen and Bexley Mixology providing a refreshing selection of handcrafted mocktails. Other stalls include hand blended holistic pink Himalayan salt products from Pink Salt UK, Cool-Caricatures by local artist Femi and Deluxe Bubbles, selling bath bombs, soaps, scrubs and balms fit to pamper a king"