Royal Greenwich Festivals free summer programme is here
The Royal Borough of Greenwich’s summer celebration is back with over 25 free Royal Greenwich Festivals events bringing music, dance, theatre, food, arts and carnival culture to every corner of the borough.
The programme runs from Saturday 7 June to Sunday 14 September and features a diverse range of festivals, performances, exhibitions and workshops delivered by both local and international artists, organisations and performers.
A spokesperson for the Royal Borough of Greenwich said: “From the beloved Plumstead Make Merry, celebrating its 50th anniversary, to show-stopping spectacles at the 30th Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, we’re working with more organisations than ever before to bring you the biggest and best Royal Greenwich Festivals yet.
“All Royal Greenwich Festivals events are free. Just come along, relax and enjoy world class arts and culture on your doorstep!”
What’s on
June
Plumstead Make Merry Association: Plumstead Make Merry
Saturday 7 June, 12 noon to 6pm
Plumstead Common, SE18 1QJ
Plumstead Make Merry celebrate its 50th anniversary, with an extravaganza of live music, dance and drumming performances, food and community stalls, sports and crafts workshops.
Arts Trust Productions: Summer in the Park
Sunday 29 June, 1pm to 6pm
Maryon Park, Charlton, SE7 8EN
Bring your picnic blanket and gather your friends and family, for a vibrant community event featuring folk music, street arts, creative arts, food and craft markets.
July
Arts Trust Productions: Summer in the Park
Saturday 5 July, 1pm to 6pm
Gallions Park, Thamesmead, SE28 0HJ
Bring your picnic blanket and gather your friends and family, for a vibrant community event featuring folk music, street arts, creative arts, food and craft markets.
Black Female Entrepreneur Greenwich (BFEG): African Masquerade
Sunday 6 July, 12 noon to 6pm
PARKSfest, Eltham Park South, SE9 1AH
A carnival amid Eltham's PARKSfest, including masquerade mask workshops, fashion show, Afrobeat dance competition, cultural food tastings and pop-up market stalls.
The Bold Melon Collective: Give or Take performance and workshops
Sunday 6 July, 12 noon to 6pm
PARKSfest, Eltham Park South, SE9 1AH
A family friendly live performance and collage workshop from local LGBTQIA+ artists.
TARU Arts: Kidbrooke Carnival
Saturday 12 July, 12 noon to 6pm
Pegler Square and Cator Park, SE3
Kidbrooke carnival returns with a spectacular parade with music, dance, and food and community stalls and TARU’s much-loved drumming!
Black Female Entrepreneur Greenwich (BFEG): Nigerian Cultural Festival
Saturday12 July, 12 noon to 6pm
Kidbrooke Carnival, Pegler Square and Cator Park, SE3
BFEG’s festival joins Kidbrooke Carnival, with masquerade mask workshops, fashion show, Afrobeat dance competition, cultural food tastings and pop-up market stalls.
Black Female Entrepreneur Greenwich: African Masquerade
Sunday 13 July, 12 noon to 6pm
PARKSfest, Bostall Gardens, Abbey Wood, SE2 0TQ
A carnival amid Bostall Gardens PARKSfest, with masquerade mask workshops, fashion show, Afrobeat dance competition, cultural food tastings and pop-up market stalls.
The Bold Melon Collective: Give or Take performance and workshops
Sunday 13 July, 12 noon to 6pm
PARKSfest, Bostall Gardens, Abbey Wood, SE2 0TQ
A family friendly live performance and collage workshop from local LGBTQIA+ artists.
The Bold Melon Collective: Queer Migrations exhibition
Monday 14 July to Sunday 10 August, 10am to 5pm
Firepit Arts Gallery and Studios, Greenwich, SE10 0XX
LGBTQIA+ artists explore the theme of 'Queer Migrations' in this innovative exhibition.
The Bold Melon Collective: Queer Migrations opening event
Thursday 17 July, 7 to 9pm
Firepit Arts Gallery and Studios, Greenwich, SE10 0XX
Queer Migrations exclusive exhibition launch, with live music, performances and Q and A session.
BME Volunteers: Greenwich Food Festival
Saturday 26 July, 12 noon to 6pm
Glyndon Community Centre and Green, Plumstead, SE18 7LB
A celebration of food, culture and community, with cooking competitions, food tastings, visual arts workshops and advice on support from local health and wellbeing initiatives.
August
Arc & You: Nigerian Cultural Finesse
Saturday 2 August, 12 noon to 6pm
Highbrook Road Open Space, Kidbrooke, SE3 9QL
Enjoy an afternoon of cultural displays, dance, seminars, theatre, and the showcase of a new documentary on Nigerian and British culture.
Arc & You: Nigerian Cultural Finesse
Saturday 9 August, 12 noon to 6pm
The Middle Park at Middle Park Avenue, SE9 5SE
Enjoy an afternoon of cultural displays, dance, seminars, theatre, and the showcase of a new documentary on Nigerian and British culture.
Arc & You: Nigerian Cultural Finesse
Saturday 16 August, 12 noon to 6pm
Felixstowe Road Green, Abbey Wood, SE2 9QQ
Enjoy an afternoon of cultural displays, dance, seminars, theatre, and the showcase of a new documentary on Nigerian and British culture.
Festival.org: Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF) Above and Beyond
Friday 22 August, 7pm
Beresford Square Woolwich, SE18 6AR
Opening the festival’s 30th anniversary with a UK premiere, French parkour artists Cie Lézards Bleus (France) will give a performance of heart-stopping, roof hopping. Gaze up in awe as eight performers embark on a breathtaking journey across landmark buildings in Woolwich. With new music by Roma Yagnik and a finale set from Citizens of the World Choir.
Arc & You: Nigerian Cultural Finesse
Saturday 23 August, 12 noon to 6pm
Eaglesfield Park, Eaglesfield Road, Shooters Hill, SE18 3BX
Enjoy an afternoon of cultural displays, dance, seminars, theatre, and the showcase of a new documentary on Nigerian and British culture.
Festival.org: Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF) Greenwich Fair
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August, 1pm to 7pm, various shows all day
General Wolfe Piazza, Observatory Hill, Greenwich Park, SE10 8XJ
Family-friendly street theatre, circus, dance and games, in a packed programme of 12 raucous shows framed by the best view of London.
Festival.org: Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF) Turning Worlds
Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August, various times
Design District Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0SQ
This year’s GDIF theme Above and Beyond is interpreted through a series of four trailblazing collaborations between engineering, technology and performance.
September
Festival.org: Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF) Fragment of Us
Thursday 4 September, 4pm and 6:30pm
General Gordon Square, Woolwich, SE18 6FH
Celebrating the endless possibilities of Black masculinity, this world premiere performance by leading Black theatre company Talawa with acclaimed Black dance company Fubunation, directed by award-winning artist Sonia Hughes features fluid movement and poignant poetry to reveal snapshots of joy, struggle, love and loss.
Festival.org: Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF) Go Grandad, Go!
Thursday 4 September, 1:30pm and 3:30pm
General Gordon Square, Woolwich, SE18 6FH
This joyous celebration of inter-generational family relationships and Caribbean culture by company DHW, combines hip hop dance and storytelling. With relatable characters, infectious moves and fully integrated access, this is a feel-good show for all ages.
Festival.org: Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF) The Weight of Water
Friday 5 and Saturday 6 September, 2:30pm and 6:30pm
Birchmere Lake, Epstein Road, Thamesmead, SE28 8DQ
This spectacular water-based event from Dutch company Panama Pictures sees six incredible performers struggle for survival on an unpredictable floating stage. The stakes are high in this modern parable of global warming, which merges dance, circus and live music on water to nail-biting effect.
Woolwich Works: Brassworks Festival
Saturday 6 September, 12 noon to 7pm
Woolwich Town Centre and Woolwich Works, Royal Arsenal, SE18 3PU
A music festival in the sunny courtyard, including a community brass parade across Woolwich town centre.
The Bold Melon Collective: Give or Take performance and workshops
Sunday 7 September, 12 noon to 6pm
PARKSfest, East Greenwich Pleasaunce, Chevening Road, Greenwich SE10 0LB
A family friendly live performance and collage workshops from local LGBTQIA artists.
Tramshed: ‘Whodunnit?’ Cabaret musical
Sunday 7 September, 12 noon to 6pm
PARKSfest, East Greenwich Pleasaunce, Chevening Road, Greenwich SE10 0LB
Reach Theatre Company will stage their "Whodunnit?" cabaret musical, and a specially commissioned artist performance.
TARU Arts: Woolwich Carnival
Saturday 13 September, 12 noon to 8pm, General Gordon Square, Beresford Square and Woolwich Arsenal, SE18
Carnival parade with music, dance, and food and community stalls.
Black Female Entrepreneur Greenwich (BFEG): Nigerian Cultural Festival
Saturday 13 September, 12 noon to 8pm
Woolwich Carnival, General Gordon Square, Beresford Square and Woolwich Arsenal, SE18
The African masquerade joins up with the Woolwich Carnival with masquerade mask workshops, fashion show, Afrobeat dance competition, cultural food tastings and pop-up market stalls.
Tramshed: ‘Whodunnit?’ Cabaret musical
Sunday 14 September, 12 noon to 6pm
PARKSfest, Southwood Park, New Eltham, SE9
Reach Theatre Company will stage their "Whodunnit?" cabaret musical, and a specially commissioned artist performance.
Don’t miss out on a free summer of fun with Royal Greenwich Festivals! Tag us in your photos @royal_greenwich using the hashtag #RGF2025