Saturday 7th September marks the return of Emerge East, a free festival of home-cooked street food, live music, wild saunas, creativity and nature on the banks of the Thames at Barking Riverside.
Having welcomed thousands of guests in 2022 and 2023, the event, now in its third consecutive year, is curated by Hemingway Design and hosts a range of activities, including pop-ups, DJ sets, an Emerging Makers’ Market and craft workshops. This year also features a major immersive art installation: Arborialis Luminarium by Architects of Air. Arborialis Luminarium is being brought to Barking Riverside by Creative Barking and Dagenham in partnership with master developer Barking Riverside Limited and with the support of Riverside School.
Arborialis Luminarium is a monumental interactive walk-in sculpture illuminated by colour and light, inspired by the natural world and featuring tree forms and leaf patterns. Created by Alan Parkinson, the visual experience is enhanced by a soothing soundtrack by the Irish composer Dr Michael Morris. This will be the premiere of Arborialis Luminarium in London, having recently been exhibited internationally in Barcelona, Adelaide, Perth, Christchurch and Auckland.
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Emerge East 2024: more key highlights
A Taste of Barking Riverside – The Home Cooks
Local people who are legends in their own kitchen will become street food vendors for a day for everyone to experience their secret family recipe. Get there early before everything sells out!
Wild Riverside Sauna
Returning for 2024 and stationed on the banks of the Thames, this collaboration is brought to Barking Riverside by Sauna Master Katie Bracher and Community Sauna CIC. The Wild Riverside Sauna will deliver the feel-good benefits of deep heat, cold contrast and rejuvenating steam. Pop-up saunas, ice cold pools and bucket showers will give visitors the opportunity to plunge themselves in a breath-taking outdoor sauna experience in a mostly unexplored stretch of the Thames, with expert guidance by the British Sauna Society and Community Sauna CIC, to learn about sauna culture and rituals from around the world.
Craft workshops and Makers’ Market
The festival will also host an array of nature-inspired creative workshops, suitable for all ages. Design a seed pot with Cella Collective’s pop-up ceramic studio, kindly supported by Bellway London, or create a flag that celebrates the local area with artist Lucy Grange. Head over to the Poetry Takeaway experience, where you’ll find a talented team of poets who will craft a personalised poem just for you, kindly supported by L&Q housing association.
An Emerging Makers’ Market showcasing a variety of local talent and thriving independent East London businesses selling a selection of clothing, gifts, lifestyle products and food produce.
Nature Talks and Walks
Nature lovers can participate in a series of nature talks and activities hosted by local experts and London National Park City, a grassroots movement promoting a greener, healthier and wilder London. Attendees can also participate in ecology walks, learn about the local flora and fauna, and take part in a series of wellness workshops on mindfulness and holistic health. Nature-inspired creative workshops for all ages including flag-making, ceramic seed pots and a bespoke sandpit play and build area.
Live Music
Music is also centre-stage: there will be live DJ sets and workshops with UD, a London-based music organisation bringing communities together around Black music and Black music culture.
Woodland Tribe activity
Families are invited to build a windmill with the masters of constructive play Woodland Tribe, a not-for-profit social enterprise promoting adventure play.
Tickets
Emerge East takes place on Saturday 7th September (11am-7pm) and is free to visit but you can register for a free ticket here. The advance tickets for Arborialis Luminarium by Architects of Air on Saturday 7th September are now sold out. You can still join the queue on the day. The luminarium will be open to admit visitors from 10am – 7pm (last admission). On the day tickets will be available on a first come first served basis. The queue may close early in the case of high attendance.
Tickets are also available for Wild Riverside Sauna (£12) for which pre-booking is recommended. For more information, to book tickets and for timings and the full line up, please visit www.emergeeast.uk. For more on Barking Riverside visit the website.
Getting there: Visitors can reach Emerge East via the Barking Riverside to Gospel Oak Overground line, or with the District, Hammersmith & City, and c2c lines via an interchange at Barking station. It can also be reached by the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers service, the EL1 or EL2 bus or via the new network of cycle paths including Cycleway 42. As local parking is limited, it is suggested that visitors travel to Barking Riverside via public transport.
The event has been commissioned by master developers Barking Riverside Limited – a joint venture between the Mayor of London and L&Q. Barking Riverside Limited is in charge of shaping a 443-acre former industrial site into a vibrant neighbourhood of new homes, commercial and leisure space, schools and facilities, public open spaces and riverside walks.
The event is supported by housing association L&Q and home builders Bellway London. Both will be showcasing the properties available to buy or rent in the neighbourhood during the festival. Arborialis Luminarium is being brought to Barking Riverside by Creative Barking and Dagenham in partnership with master developer Barking Riverside Limited and with the support of Riverside School.
This is a paid partnership between Leytonstoner and Barking Riverside Limited. If you wish to speak to thousands of east and north Londoners please email info@leytonstoner.london