The local fixture brings back an old tradition this year, and offers a day of fun, food and entertainment

People at a park festival — Photo by Aranxa Esteve on Unsplash

Celebrating its 50th year, East Finchley Festival will take place on Sunday 23rd of June at Cherry Tree Wood.

The festival will be holding a 1970s themed parade, beginning at Martin School at 11.30am and finishing at the festival site at 12.00pm for the beginning of the event. There is a prize for best 1970’s themed fancy dress. Those wishing to join the parade must register at the festival website.

The festival features:

two music stages
a large selection of street food stalls and licensed bars
over 100 local makers and community organisations
activities and sports for all, including tennis, pickleball, rugby and football skills
children’s arts and crafts
a storytelling tent
Lego, soft play, laser tag and more.

The first East Finchley Festival took place in 1972, organised by the East Finchley Residents Association. According to the festival website, this included “residents parading a whole roast sheep down the road to Cherry Tree Wood.”

From those early roast meat days, the Festival has experienced various dramas, including being banned, double bookings and more, as detailed at the festival website.

Since 2019, the festival has been run by East Finchley Festival CIC, a non-profit Community Interest Company and receives no funding from Barnet Council or any other external body, relying on sponsorship from local businesses and donations from the public.

https://www.eastfinchleyfestival.org

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.