Summer of festivals
Summer
of festivals is back in 2022 with a full list of all your favourite festivals and we plan to make it the best year yet!
In 2015 we held a number of events across the borough to celebrate our 50th anniversary. They were so well received, and enjoyed by around 100,000 people, that our free events programme Summer of festivals was born. Starting in 2016 with each year getting bigger and better.
One summer.
Two locations - Barking and Dagenham.
Free events for the entire family!
Photos/film of individuals/groups, where they are the focus of the photo/film, will require consent forms. This is not the case for crowd shots.
Keep up to date with all the events
Follow us on social media.
Summer of festivals on Facebook.
- Cockney Night and Beacon Lighting
- Barking Folk Festival
- The Platinum Jubilee Day
- Youth Parade
- One Borough Festival
- Roundhouse Music Festival
- Steam and Cider Fair
- One Borough Flags
Cockney Night and Beacon Lighting
Part of The Platinum Jubilee Weekender
Thursday 2 June 2022
Come and celebrate all things East End with a proper cockney knees up as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. There will be live performances, a good old fashion sing along and some grub on offer.
The evening will conclude with the official lighting of the beacon taking place as beacons are lit across the country to honour Her Majesty the Queen and her 70 years of service.
Barking Folk Festival
Part of The Platinum Jubilee Weekender
Friday 3 June 2022
A family-friendly festival celebrating folk music and dance from around the globe, complete with workshops, family fun and sensational street theatre. The concert showcases the best names in folk music.
The Platinum Jubilee Day
Part of The Platinum Jubilee Weekender
Saturday 4 June 2022
We continue the celebrations with a free family event enjoying some family-fun entertainment, exciting performances and crafts and stalls. The event concludes in the Abbey Ruins will a programme celebrating 70 years Great British Jazz in partnership with London East Jazz Network.
Youth Parade
Part of The Platinum Jubilee Weekender 
Sunday 5 June 2022
Our eighth annual youth parade to celebrate the borough’s inspirational young people and the positive contribution they make.
The parade culminates with a great family friendly event showcasing a number of clubs, groups and activities aimed at young people.
The event is also jammed packed with free family entertainment, workshops, rides and attractions.
One Borough Festival
Part of The Summer of festivals Weekender
Saturday 23 July 2022
This community focused event is back and promises to be even bigger and better.
Thrilling entertainment, dance, street theatre, family fun, and more; you name it we have something for all the family.
Roundhouse Music Festival
Part of The Summer of festivals Weekender 
Sunday 24 July 2022
A retro 70s rock concert with a modern twist to celebrate the rich musical history of the borough’s Roundhouse pub which has played host to some of the world’s most famous rock bands.
Don’t miss our BIG headliner, unbelievable tribute acts and the final of the Roundhouse Unsigned Competition.
Steam and Cider Fair
Saturday 10 September 2022
Enjoy traditional entertainment and attractions to reflect the borough’s rural and industrial heritage with steam engines, a classic car show, animals, arena acts and the popular Cider Stage featuring Country and Western favourites.
One Borough Flags
Part of The Platinum Jubilee Weekender
Sunday 20 March and Sunday 27 March 2022
The project gives residents across the borough a chance to design a set of flags that will fly in Barking Town Centre to celebrate Barking and Dagenham - One Borough One Community. The flags will be displayed ready for the Platinum Jubilee Weekender on 2- 5 June.
Join our design competition for ages 8 to 18 year olds and win prizes for you and your school.
2021 Festivals
Becontree 100
14 August 2021
The major arts and music festival is part of the Becontree Forever programme which celebrates the centenary of the Becontree Estate; the biggest housing estate in the UK.
The focus of the festival is to promote unity through the power of music and tell the story of the estate both past, present and future.
The event will include music, dance, exhibitions, international food stalls, tearoom, arena acts, family fun, rides and attractions.
B&D Thank You Roadshow
3, 4 and 5 July 2021
We’re coming together across the borough to thank the amazing NHS, our fantastic keyworkers and our borough residents for showing resilience throughout the pandemic and beyond.
The roadshow will travel through the borough with feel good family entertainment visiting residential areas, community venues and parks.
Get involved
How to get involved at our events, plan a street party or hire a park for your event.
Exhibiting at our events Toggle accordion
We have great opportunities for you to promote your business/organisation at our events or an opportunity for you to sell your products to our residents.
If you are interested in having a stall at our events, please complete the form below and return to summeroffestivals@lbbd.gov.uk by Friday 29 April 2022:
Expression of Interest – Performers and performance groups Toggle accordion
Would you like the chance to perform or showcase your programmes or projects at one or more of our festivals this year?
If you are interested in performing, please complete the below form and send to summeroffestivals@lbbd.gov.uk by Tuesday 3 May 2022:
2022 Creative Commissions Toggle accordion
Barking and Dagenham’s Summer of festivals are looking to commission creative performances, workshops, parades, poetry, theatre performance and creative installations for the 2022 programme. We are inviting artists and artist collectives, businesses and community groups, of varying disciplines such as music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature and combined arts to submit proposals.
Attached is the brief which includes the application form:
Summer of Festivals 2022 Commissions .docx
There is a short deadline for this which is Friday 29 April - please submit application to summeroffestivals@lbbd.gov.uk
Catering at our events Toggle accordion
If you would like to cater at our events please complete the below form and submit with the below to summeroffestivals@lbbd.gov.uk. You will need to provide documentation on the following:
- Food Safety Management System based on HACCP Principles (SFBB or equivalent)
- Risk assessment document for the operation of all catering units
- Public Liability insurance (£5 million minimum)
- Proof of local authority registration of all units and current hygiene rating
- Food hygiene certificates for all staff handling food
- Price list
- Photos of food and catering unit
Showcase your classic car Toggle accordion
If you or your club would like to attend the Steam & Cider Fair with your beautiful classic cars and vehicles on Saturday 10 September, then please complete and return the booking form.
Classic Vehicle Booking Form 2022.docx
Return your form to:
Gurvinder Bhaker
Events Team, Barking Town Hall, 1 Town Square, Barking, IG11 7LU
Showcase your steam engine Toggle accordion
If you are interested in showcasing your steam engines at the Steam & Cider Fair on Saturday 10 September, please complete and return the booking form.
Steam and Cider Fair - Steam Engine Booking Form_1.docx
Steam and Cider Fair - Miniature Steam Engine Booking Form_1.docx
Return your form to:
Gurvinder Bhaker
Events Team, Barking Town Hall, 1 Town Square, Barking, IG11 7LU
Platinum Jubilee Community Celebrations and Street Parties Toggle accordion
Please note the application process is now closed and organisers have now been contacted.
We are all looking forward to celebrating a very special year as Her Majesty the Queen will become the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service.
The Platinum Jubilee takes place on 2-5 June, which this year is a public bank holiday.
The Council are staging events to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee that you may like to attend, see our Jubilee Weekender listings above. Alternatively, you might decide to celebrate with your neighbours by organising a community celebration or street party.
These events are a great way to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee and get to know your neighbours, generate community spirit and have a fun day on your doorstep.
Platinum Jubilee Street Party Application Pack.docx
Please note the following:
- To play music through a PA system you would need a license from our licensing team. Music from a devise like Alexa or similar where the noise isn't too loud is sufficient.
- Residents can bring their own alcohol but if there is alcohol on sale or if tickets are sold that include a alcoholic drink then a license will be required from our licensing team.
- If you plan to have food stalls selling food, then a license is required from our licensing team. No license is required for residents to bring their own food for their own consumption and it's advisable that food has allergen information displayed, if there will be sharing of food.
Events Team
Barking Town Hall, 1 Town Square, Barking, Essex, IG11 7LU
Hire a park for your proposed event Toggle accordion
External events can take place subject to Covid-19 and following the current government guidelines.
Due to a backlog we are not processing new event applications currently. We will update this page when we are taking applications again. Thank you for your patience.
The Events team will consider a wide range of event applications for all types of events including:
- fun days
- concerts
- sports events
- festivals
Funfair and circus applications are welcome and are reviewed by the Parks Team.
Organisers can be commercial companies or charitable organisations.
Please note that for large scale events (1,000 people or more), the application window is between September and February.
For all other events, we require at least six weeks notice unless otherwise agreed with the council.
Events guidance pack (DOCX, 5.7MB)
To apply to hire a park for your proposed event
Complete the application form and return along with your application fee.
Park Hire Application Form 2021.docx
Once your application has been agreed in principle, the following forms must be completed along with your Event Management Plan (EMP).
Designated Premises Supervisor consent form (DOCX, 60KB)
Emergency services event summary sheet (DOCX, 14KB)
Risk assessment template (DOCX, 68KB)
Send completed forms to:
Applications are subject to approval by the council including the Licensing team and the Safety Advisory Group including Public Health.
All events hire is subject to COVID-19 and subject to current government guidelines.
Sponsorship opportunities Toggle accordion
The Summer of festivals 2022 event programme is back and there are some great opportunities for businesses to get involved.
We can offer a range of sponsorship packages and are also always happy to discuss bespoke requests.
Find out more
Please contact us to arrange a meeting:
Sarah Belchambers/Gurvinder Bhaker
07875 993524/07977 018821
Our 2022 sponsors
- Eastbrook Studios
- McLaren
- Barking Riverside
- Weston Homes
- CU London
- Pinebridge
- London City Airport
- ManPower
- Agilisys
- Jumpin Jacks
Our 2021 sponsors
Once again, we would like to thank all of our 2021 sponsors and partners who, through their support, helped create a very memorable year – we hope to work with you all again.