In the summer of 1971, the first Thamesmead Town Festival took place, featuring a 'throw the sponge at the vicar' stall.
That particular stall's long gone (good new for today's vicar), but the festival remains — celebrating its 53rd innings on Saturday 2 August 2025.
These days, the Thamesmead Festival is a riot of colour, expressing the artistic roots — and great diversity — of the south east London town's inhabitants.
Multiple stages pitch up at Southmere Park again this year — showcasing an eclectic mix of hip-hop, R&B, rap, indie, dance, comedy and more. Here's a selection of the line-up:
- Park Stage: the biggest stage of the lot features performances from the genre-blending Masiba Band, infectious African rhythms from Afro Pulse and a headlining set from Omar.
- Unplugged Stage: nestled among the trees, this is the place to chill and unwind, with comedy from Variety D, a set from Turkish Cypriot songwriter Gönül and R&B/jazz fusion from Isabelle Mettle.
- Southmere Stage: community-focused happenings on this stage include a swing dance workshop, a performance from the Thamesmead Community Choir, plus the Thamesmead Festival Dog Show.
Elsewhere across the festival site, there's a scattering of community stalls, food from local vendors, a craft market, and various workshops, classes and kid-friendly activities.
Check out the full Thamesmead Festival line-up on the website [pdf].
While you're in the hood, look out for six murals painted in 2023 — slathered on lift shafts, tower vents and garage doors. The commissions — mainly by women — take their cue from Thamesmead itself, from its urban environment to its majestic swans.
Thamesmead Festival is at Southmere Park, Thamesmead on Saturday 2 August 2025, 12pm-7.30pm. Entry is free. It's a 15-minute walk from Abbey Wood station.
