Thousands of people are expected to flock to a fair that kicks off a nine-day community festival taking in music, comedy, film, art and more.
Coleridge, karaoke, and a children's film competition judged by Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan's mum are among the highlights of this year's Highgate Festival.
Organisers have unveiled nine days of activities including new events such as an Under 18s Short Film competition judged by long term Highgate resident Christina Nolan, and a show on the Boogaloo bar's radio station about the area's musical heroes.
Kicking off the festivities is the hugely popular Fair in the Square on June 8.
Highgate's annual village fair is a volunteer-run free event that draws 10,000 people to Pond Square for live entertainment and around 100 stalls selling plants, books, food and crafts.
Local societies, charities, schools, businesses, and theatres take part in the event, which includes two entertainment stages, a children's art tent, a dog show, and choir performances in St Michael's Church.
Also in St Michael's, the crypt will be open for visitors to see the 17th century wine cellar behind which is the last resting place of Rime of the Ancient Mariner writer Samuel Taylor Coleridge - with short talks on the poet's life, and death.
The Highgate Festival boasts a mix of music, walks, talks and trails including a creative writing workshop with poet and stand-up comedian Laurie Bolger, Bonanza, a night for the LGBT+community with rodeo-themed cabaret and country-pop at The Boogaloo, and Art on the Archway Road showcasing contemporary artists in five spaces.
“What we love about the festival is how it shows the huge variety of things you can do in our neighbourhood over a week," said Alicia Pivaro, one of the festival organisers.
"Hopefully everyone will discover or try something new. I’m having a go at poetry this year!”
Other highlights include students from Parliament Hill and William Ellis creating a 'Cabinet of Curiosities' installation at Lauderdale House, a guided walk, exhibition and film of the Holly Lodge Estate to celebrate its 100th birthday, and music sessions at Brendan The Navigator pub in Highgate Hill.
Dr Karen Moloney gives a talk at the Highgate Society ahead of the June 16 world premiere of her musical Longitude Upstairs at the Gatehouse theatre.
The Village Square karaoke bar in Archway Road is hosting Boogie Nights and there's a tribute to composer Carl Davis, featuring his music from the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in Swains Lane.
On June 15, also in Pond Square, the Eco Fair organised by Highgate Neighbourhood Forum and Growing Green, brings together climate action organisations to promote a greener neighbourhood with stalls, talks and workshops on increasing biodiversity in your garden, greening in schools, and recording nature in your garden, followed by music and dancing.
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