Wembley Park – London’s most exciting new neighbourhood – has launched its Summer of Play 2023 programme. Packed with a diverse range of free events, including live music, dance, circus skills, urban sports, and arts and crafts, the programme will run until the end of September, offering an unforgettable summer experience to visitors and residents.
The festivities kicked off earlier this month, when music lovers rejoiced at the return of the Wembley Park Live programme, now in its fifth year. Presented by Wembley Park and Busk in London, Wembley Park Live showcases a jam-packed line-up of live music performances across the neighbourhood every Thursday to Sunday.
Music lovers can look forward to free performances from popular acts such as Lucy May Walker, John Clapper, Freddie Joon and an exciting roster of new talents. The performances will span various genres, from classical to country, folk to pop and plenty in between, many taking place on the striking Sound Shell stage in Samovar Space, which has proven popular with performers and audiences alike.
In addition to the packed live music agenda, also coming up is a lively day hosted by BollyRed Dance on Saturday 20th May. Audiences of all ages and abilities are invited to watch captivating performances and join free Bollywood dance workshops. The festive atmosphere will set the perfect scene for a Summer of Play, bringing together local residents and visitors to Wembley Park in a celebration of outdoor arts and entertainment.
Over the coming weeks, attendees can enjoy a wide range of free events, from beatboxing performances and skateboarding classes during Boards, Beats and Bikes on 4th June, to space-themed fancy dress kids dance sessions with Dancetronauts on 5th August, and arts and crafts workshops on 29th July delivering messy fun for all the family.
Exciting highlights also include circus skills classes by Tish & The Circus Bus on 18th June, urban sports demos, Parkour shows, contemporary dance performances plus workshops from Traceworks on 20th August and even the chance to take part in the ultimate dance party with Speaker Box Street Party in early September.
Other highlights include Shubbak Festival’s presentation of Taroo, a Parkour and circus comedy show that tells stories from streets around the world. This extraordinary performance will take place in Samovar Space on Friday 30th June.
The Brent Music Service summer concert will be another popular event, taking place in The Undercroft beneath the Olympic Steps by Wembley Stadium on Sunday 2nd July and featuring some of the most talented young performers from the Brent area.
On Sunday 16th July, renowned Rambert Dance Company, currently touring with their spectacular musical production of Peaky Blinders, will be hosting a day of dance, offering eight half hour dance lessons in many different styles.
Throughout July and August, Play Days, a ground-breaking project conceived by the visionary co-founders of the GameCity Festival and National Videogame Museum, will transform the iconic Olympic Way into an extraordinary gaming platform, offering visitors a one-of-a-kind immersive experience where the neighbourhood itself becomes an interactive video games console. By harnessing cutting-edge technology, audiences will have the power to turn everyday household objects and even fruits into controllers, allowing them to operate captivating games displayed on giant digital totems located opposite the entrance to the National Stadium. This revolutionary fusion of digital and the public realm is set to transport participants into a world where creativity knows no bounds. By seamlessly blending the physical and virtual realms, Wembley Park’s Play Days events will seek to captivate and inspire visitors, inviting them to explore amazing new ways to play.
Wembley Park has a well-established reputation for the broad appeal of its local, community-centric events. The neighbourhood is home to the free Wembley Park Art Trail, featuring a captivating mix of permanent urban art pieces from the likes of Mr Doodle, Lois O’Hara and Pref, and thought-provoking seasonal exhibitions addressing global and societal issues. From a street party for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III to a Valentine's Day candlelit concert with performers from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Wembley Park has also showcased a wide range of community events in recent months.
“Summer of Play at Wembley Park presents a unique array of formats and mediums, uniting residents, visitors and performers in extraordinary ways. With this diverse programme of free, family-friendly events, we aim to embrace the spirit of summer and provide unforgettable experiences for all”.
Josh McNorton, Cultural Director, Wembley Park
All events included in the Summer of Play programme will be free to attend and do not require tickets, with participants able to drop in on the day and join in whenever the mood takes them. The neighbourhood is easily accessible, being only 12 minutes from central London by tube and reachable by train and bus, as well as offering plentiful parking.
The vast range of performances, interactive experiences, classes and more has been designed to provide fun for all, for free, over the summer months, creating a uniquely inclusive, neighbourhood-wide experience. From high-octane dance and street arts performances to live music spanning many genres, Wembley Park is the place to play this summer.
For more information visit wembleypark.com/summer, find us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.