Yam Yam! explore what happens when art meets food. Photo: Yam Yam!
East London is, as ever, teaming with a wide range of unique experiences. This week offers a night of Victorian choral music, a Bavarian beer festival and a chance to offload some of that unwanted clutter.
Swap Away (FREE)
Saturday October 5 11:00am - 4:00pm
Tarling East Community Centre, 63 Martha Street, Shadwell, E1 2PA
This event invites Tower Hamlets residents to bring their unwanted goods and swap them for something they do want. The event, organised by Tower Hamlets Council, is primarily designed for the exchange of small goods though larger goods can be photographed and details exchanged. A range of recycling bins will also be available on site.
Oktoberfest at Millwall Park (FREE, Saturday Entry £5)
Friday October 4 - Sunday October 6
Millwall Park, Manchester Road, E14 3AY
Those who can’t make it to Bavaria this Autumn need not miss out on it’s legendary beer festival. Millwall Park plays host to the third annual London Oktoberfest this weekend, and promises all the Lederhosen fun of it’s Bavarian brother. Entry is free, but ticket packages can also be booked online.
366 Days of Kindness, an interactive installation (FREE)
Saturday October 5 10:00am - 4:00pm
The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG
Bernadette Russell presents this interactive installation she created in response to the Summer 2011 riots. The piece is the result of of her asking “Is it possible to change the world just by being kind?”
The installation features extracts from the artist's blog and various other artefacts from her journey to answer this simple question.
YAM YAM! food and arts festival launch day (FREE)
Sunday October 6 11:00am - 8:00pm
The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG
This free event offers something for everyone from a BBQ, gardening and cocktail making workshops to a petting zoo. There will be workshops lead by Yam Yam! resident artists as well as the very best of London’s food scene.
CROxjam Music Festival (Wristband for all concerts £10, some free)
Thursday October 3 - Sunday October 6
Various venues
The best of Croydon’s local musicians take over during this four day festival. Over 100 bands will take the stage in 12 venues, with money raised being sent to those in need through Oxfam. Every genre imaginable is represented over the weekend, so there is something for everyone. Some of the gigs are free and some charge a small entry fee on the door, but the best way to enjoy the festival is to purchase a £10 wristband that will allow entry to everything. More info and wristbands available on the CROxjam website.
Croydon Family Learning Festival (FREE, some event require booking via library)
Friday October 4th - Friday October 11th
Various venues (Croydon libraries)
Free, family oriented events happening across Croydon throughout the week. Activities include dance classes, musical workshops, healthy eating advice and the chance to handle snakes, scorpions and other creepy crawlies. More information can be found on the council website.
Hackney Singers 40th Anniversary Concert (£12)
Saturday October 5 7:30pm
St Marys Church, Stoke Newington, N16 9ES
A night of Victorian music presented buy the 150 members of the Hackney Singers community choir to mark their 40 years together. The performance will include well known pieces by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Anton Bruckner. Tickets are available from the Hackney Singers website.
