East London Food & Culture

Unity Cafe

Leytonstone Festival: long-running annual bash is back

Nine days of art, live music, food, performance and kids' activities kick off this Saturday across E11's many venues

You don’t need us to tell you that a zillion live events were cancelled during 2020 – you know, iconic things like Glastonbury, the Chelsea Flower Show and the Henley Royal Regatta.

One closer to home also hit was, of course, E11’s very own annual Leytonstone Festival, which itself has been running a mightily impressive quarter century (read about the 2019 one here.)

But this weekend, from Saturday 4th September, the good news is that the festival is back, running for nine days over two weekends (ends Sunday 12th Sept) with a nicely eclectic slew of events to appeal to all manner of modern-day Leytonstoners.

Leytonstone Festival
Singer Ang. Check out the map of participating venues.

First organised back in the mid-nineties, it works in partnership with the Summer in the Stone project – you might have seen the banners at the Overground station, or on the railings by the churchyard.

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Its 2021 launch is at 2pm (till 6pm) this Saturday, at St John’s Church grounds, featuring a raft of live acts and performances, including Psychedelic Hearts Club. Elsewhere across E11 expect everything from kids’ events to talks, poetry, workshops, exhibitions and gigs.

Leytonstone Festival
Click here to explore the map and venues.

Local artists and performers are set to do their thing at venues across the town centre, including, this weekend, To Be Consumed, The Red Lion and the Plough & Harrow. Other participating venues over the next few days include Unity Cafe (pictured above) the Ex-Serviceman’s Club, the Library, Heathcote & Star (don’t miss Gary Lewis’ An Evening With Hitch on 8th Sept) and Filly Brook.

Not sure where to start? The above map is good: click on a venue of your choice and it will tell you what event it’s hosting – and when.

Leytonstone Festival runs from 4th-12th September across E11. For the complete rundown of events over the nine days head to the event’s Facebook page here, which includes a map of venues and events so you can plan what you fancy.

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Main image: Stephen Emms

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