London Korean Festival 2015

This year's London Korean Festival was held in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 9 August between 12:00 - 20:00. The cultural event had Korean food, music, performances, art and activities.

The stage had music from K-Pop and Rock music bands f(x) and Guckkasten as well as breakdance performances from Jingo Crew and Soul Mavericks. Other performances given came in the from of traditional Korean dances by Yung Myung Hwan Dance Company as well as modernised performances from the Yeon Hee Company. Instrumental music performances were provided by PAN and 4 in Nori. The stage was designed as a catwalk to also showcase the Korean fashion.

There are four "themed zones": Tourism Zone, Food Zone, Contents Zone and Brand Zone. The Tourism was completely packed and there was hardly any way of getting there without a long wait. There were chances to enter a competition with GoKorea for a trip for two to South Korea. I got there around peak lunchtime so queues for the Korean food stalls were lining up along the walls of the Square. The Contents Zone had activities ranging from reading Korean comics through physical books to mediums of technology to fashion. The Brand Zone showcased the latest Korean-based car brands and technology.

 

The K-Music 2015 festival is to be held later this year with music and performances across London through September. You can find out more about it at serious.org.uk/K-Music.

#LondonKoreanFestival

West End Live 2015

West End Live brings the musical theatre into the open air with activities and performance taking place in Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. The event ran on the weekend of 23 and 24 June 2015.

In Leicester Square, there were many of a variety to do with make-up demonstrations, photo booth, kid’s activity zone and a chance to view as well as wear some of the props and costumes from musicals and theatre on display. Props and costumes on display come from The 39 Steps, Wicked, Bugsy Malone, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and War Horse.

There are other activities to enjoy such as an interactive children’s area for the family to enjoy with different arts and crafts activities. What I particularly liked was the photo booth where can dress yourself up (I’m gonna dress you up in my love!) and take groovy snaps.

On main stage in Trafalgar Square, theatre shows and musical groups and troupes take centre stage providing performances throughout both Saturday and Sunday. Some of the acts include The Phantom of the Opera, Disney’s The Lion King and Thriller Live.

Refreshments are available and provided by Fortnum and Mason. There are many actitivities for the family to enjoy such as puppet shows and science experiments to get to grips with. 11 canopies have been set up with many freebies to get and many things to do. The 11 canopies house different businesses and associations to the event:

• Everything's Rosie
• Ripley's Believe It or Not!
• Heart
• Science Museum
• Oxford Street
• Little Angel Theatre
• Forbidden Planet
• Picturehouse Central
• London Film Museum
• The Theatres Trust
• Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop

#WestEndLive

Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival 2015

The Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival is an annual event held in and by St. Paul’s Church in Covent Garden West Piazza. It’s a celebration of Samuel Pepys’s first sighting of Mr. Punch 353 years ago with this year being the 40th anniversary of the event. It was held on Sunday 10 May 2015.

The event holds many activities for everyone alike to enjoy. There are puppet shows which are shown throughout the day which brings Judy and Punch professors and puppeteers across the country together for this occasion. There are many other things run throughout the day such as a procession accompanied by a brass band which starts at 11am and followed by church service at 12pm. Other activities throughout the day are music from folk groups, maypole dancing for the children, stalls selling various animate objects (puppet galore!) and many clowns (coulrophobia beware!).

The Feast of St George 2015

The Feast of St George celebrates the day with food inspired by the feast of the national day of St George which was on 23 April 2015. The event was held on Saturday 26 April 2015 and in the vicinity of Trafalgar Square from 12:00 to 18:00.

The event holds live cookery demos from celebrity chefs in Cook’s Corner as well as talks and demonstrations of making different teas. There are also banqueting area located between the tables, where you can join the views of the decorations of bunting and flags.

There are a range of activities for the family to enjoy with games, such as hoopla and hook a duck, as well as swings and a carousal. Marquees hold workshops for family where the children can create their very own knight helmet and sword as well as be adorned with a knight’s name on a knight’s medallion. There were opportunities for taking pictures with Knights Lance and his Queen.

In the tiltyard, there is a bandstand with a range of music and dance taking place, such as music from Let It Be, Hammersmith Morris Men and Crystal Palace Brass Band.

#StGeorgesDayLDN

St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival 2015

London’s St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival 2015 took place in Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus on Sunday 17 March, two days before the grand day on Tuesday 17 March.

Despite the dreary London weather, the Irish festival took place on full blast with Irish food and drinks, music and dance in Trafalgar Square. The Main Stage showcased troupes, a tribute to W.B Yeats, sport, music and dance. In the surrounding area, there was a food market containing different Irish food and drinks as well as a bar which opened at 15:00. There were marquees set up for different organisations as well as a children’s marquee with arts and crafts activities for families to enjoy together.

The parade started off at Green Park at 12:00 making its way through to Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and White Hall, featuring the vibrancy of the Irish community with music, Irish dancing, art and culture.

#StPatsDayLDN