Summer’s biggest free festival set to take over the streets and parks of Southwark

Every year, the free and un-ticketed Bankside Open Spaces Festival takes over streets and parks along the south bank of the River Thames.

This year is no different with the charity-run festival set to return once again on June 8, boasting four huge music and performance stages.

Kicking things off, dancers from the area’s Latin American community will parade from Castle Square, Elephant and Castle, to the festival’s main stage, Flat Iron Square in Southwark Street. 

The parade will feature Latin American dance groups from the community, organised by the Elephant and Castle Business Forum in collaboration with the Yurupari Dance Group. 

Guests can also join in the fun with the UDM Samba, who will be bringing Rio-Carnival Samba to Southwark’s streets in the afternoon.

The Flat Iron Square stage will open with Dana Immanuel and The Stolen Band offering a show of alt-country eccentricity. 

With street food and bars nearby there’s no need to move, unless you’re looking for more of a relaxed, pint-in-the-sun vibe.

If that is the case, visitors can take a seat at Red Cross Garden and enjoy a bit of Americana, delta blues or indie pop from a line-up of five London artists, headed up by UK folk scene favourite Rob Corcoran. 

There’s also a folk ensemble, and all performances are interspersed with live poetry too. 

And for the active and community minded, head over to Marlborough Sports Garden’s Community Stage for a mix of community choirs and performers, plus free dance workshops – for an unmatched combination of Irish jigs, salsa and street dancing.

Across the festival, local craft stalls, free activities and workshops will keep all ages busy and entertained. 

The free Bankside Open Spaces Festival is the perfect way to welcome in the summer festival season. 

Pictured top: The Latin American parade kicked off Bankside Open Spaces Festival in 2023 (Picture: India Mae Alby)