Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 [photoessay]

February 28, 2017February 25, 2022 Tabitha Stapely 2335 Views 5 min read

The third Roman Road Summer Festival brought Roman Road Market to life with live music all day, a Cockney Corner with East End music, language, games and entertainment, children’s craft workshops and street entertainment from buskers, stilt dancers and roving performers, plus hot food, guided heritage tours and over 50 stalls including 40 designer-makers from Urban Makers East.

It was a glorious hot summer’s day and 12,000 people turned out from near and far to enjoy this homegrown community event, made from 90% local ingredients. Here are some of the highlights caught on camera.

Singers on the Airstream stage decorated with palm trees at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — The festival was opened by Sunday Assembly East End © Oliver Lynton

Dave Neita, People's Lawyer and People's Poet talking on Airstream stage at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — Dave Neita the People’s Lawyer and People’s Poet speaking on stage as part of Sunday Assembly’s festival service

Hip hop dancers performing on artificial grass at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — The Rebirth Network performing hip hop displays © Oliver Lynton

Slilt walker in green fairy outfit with wings spread at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — One of the stilt dancers with fairy wings spread over Gladstone Place © Oliver Lynton

Street food trader selling food at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — Street food trader Bow Belly selling Shatsuka – they sold out! © Oliver Lynton

Woman holding large shaggy dog in her arms at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — No festival would be complete without our four legged friends and plenty © Oliver Lynton

Woman in Suffragettes clothing at Roman Road Summer Festival — A roving Suffragette in full regalia drumming up business in support of a Sylvia Pankhurst statue © Oliver Lynton

Paper plate festoon decorations at Roman Road Summer Festival — Paper plate flowers decorated by local children and Age UK pensioners decorated Roman Road © Oliver Lynton

Women in straw hat enjoying Urban Makers East market at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — The hats and summer dresses were out for Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 © Oliver Lynton

Performers in fancy dress bearing a placard saying Welcome to Roman Road at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — The Lady of the Mannah and ‘er mate Doreen © Oliver Lynton

The craft table was mobbed all day with children making Match Women's hats in celebration of Annie Besant's workers riots at Bryant & May factory in Bow © Oliver Lynton — The craft table was mobbed all day with children making Match Women’s hats in celebration of Annie Besant’s workers riots at Bryant & May factory in Bow © Oliver Lynton

Three Asian girls wearing festival hats at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — Young girls wearing the Match Women hats they made at the craft workshop © Oliver Lynton

Child with Pearly Queen baseball cap at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — Baseball cap pimped up with pearly buttons for a modern day take on Pearly Queens © Oliver Lynton

Two older women holding a framed print of the Bow Geezers nude calendar photo shoot at Roman Road Summer Festival — Proudly displaying a framed photo of the Bow Geezers nude calender photo shoot in aid of disappearing pubs © Oliver Lynton

Young child playing tribal drums on the street at Roman Road Summer Festival — Making world music on the streets of Roman Road Market © Oliver Lynton

Magician entertaining children at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — Magician Professor Palmermoff captivated his audience young and old © Oliver Lynton

Two women sitting at a cafe table against a London brick wall at Roman Road Festival 2016 — Two local women soaking up the rays and enjoying the street entertainment © Oliver Lynton

Young girl with face painted and wearing hand crafted Match Women's hat at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — Festival face and festival hat makes every child smile © Oliver Lynton

The designer-maker traders from Urban Makers East at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — The designer-maker traders from Urban Makers East © Oliver Lynton

Vintage collectables at market stall at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — Vintage collectables at one of the market stalls © Oliver Lynton

Freddie and the Freeloaders on the Airstream stage at Roman Road Summer Festival 2016 — Freddie and the Freeloaders on the Airstream stage – they got everyone clapping and dancing! © Oliver Lynton

Psychedelic dance troop The Action Men on the Airstream stage at Roman Road Summer Festival, watched by audience seated in stripy deckchairs — The one and only psychedelic dance troop The Action Men closed the festival © Oliver Lynton

Asian family holding baby in arms and watching magic show at Roman Road Summer Festival — Enjoying the magic show © Oliver Lynton

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Tabitha Stapely

Tabitha Stapely is the founder of Social Streets C.I.C, a not-for-profit media company using journalism to strengthen communities, particularly those in disadvantaged or neglected areas. Prior, Stapely was a writer and editor for national titles including The Telegraph, Elle and Red magazines.

Tabitha Stapely has 60 posts and counting. See all posts by Tabitha Stapely