The Clapton Festival in London

The festival came to life in 2011 when a group of local residents wanted to host a series of events to bring together the community, and celebrate both the history of Clapton, and exciting changes that are happening across the borough and boost the local economy.

 After the success of last year local shops, schools, outdoor spaces including Clapton Pond, and amazing and unusual venues are getting involved again in hosting a diverse mix of events.

 Some highlights confirmed so far include:

 Friday 15^th: An opening night party at Core Arts will feature Molly's Dagger's - heavy rock 'n' roll to kick start the festival in style, plus Georges Kaplan Presents - jazz noir soundtracks from this experimental duo with tunes aplenty. There will also be the first of a weekend of amazing performance art events by local group Outhere at the Round Chapel, with sculpture, video, dance and poetry.

 Saturday 16^th:  Enjoy a cinema history talk at Levy Gate, the Hackney Childrens Theatre will be performing a double bill in St John's Churchyard, pupils' work will be on display from the recent ARTS Week at Millfields School including a glorious flag procession from Clapton Square to the school, and there will also be Open Weekend at the Victoria Mission School.

 Music will take centre stage, with a dedicated sound stage at the north side of Clapton Square, which will host a number of local bands, and feature young performers from schools all over the borough. We are still looking for more to join!

 Then starting late afternoon and going on into the night, the Reggae Sound Connection is back at the Round Chapel and will feature the mighty Gladdy Wax Sound System and Solution Sound System. With Trevor Sax, Manassah and Pennyreal.

 Sunday 17th: The final day will include the amazing Orchestra Elastique, a music improvisation collective, with talented musicians from around the world, at Lumiere on Chatsworth Road.

 Throughout the weekend there will be a number of market stalls. The ever popular Hackney Homemade Market will be in St John's Churchyard on Saturday and then Bookbox courtyard just off Chatsworth Road on Sunday with lots of food and drink stalls, as well as crafts, clothes and community stalls, and music and entertainment. And of course Sunday will see the now weekly Chatsworth Road Market.

 All local businesses, social groups of all ages, creatives and enterprising types are welcome and encouraged to get involved. Get in touch if you would like participate in any way, to perform or support or volunteer in any other way.