Sun shines on Hoxton Market for Our Homes Festival
A visit from the East End institution that is the Pearly Kings and Queens, live music from local young people and over a hundred market stalls, made the Hoxton Market Summer Fair and Our Homes Festival a big success.
With the sun shining and temperatures reaching over 32 degrees, hundreds of residents came along to the combined event; held on Hackney’s oldest street market, which was established over 300 years ago in 1687.
As well as traditional fun fair games, market stalls and live entertainment there were numerous Council and local voluntary sector stalls, giving information to residents on everything from housing repairs to recycling. The Our Homes Festival was developed by Hackney’s housing services, to give local tenants and leaseholders direct access to services that they need, have fun and meet their neighbours. Linking the festival with the local market aimed to support local businesses and help more people from Shoreditch and Hoxton rediscover what the market has to offer.
The Our Homes Festival was also a platform to celebrate 100 years of council house building with residents able to access hidden histories on the borough’s social housing legacy.
Joan Huxtable, 85, from Haggerston, said: “I am having a beautiful time, and I'm just about to meet my mates in the caff, I meet them every Saturday and it’s great to see the market like this. It’s a beautiful market, and it’s great to have all these activities for kids.”
Hoxton Radio provided music for the event and conducted a live broadcast interviewing the Mayor of Hackney, and young people who were performing on the Discover Young Hackney stage and the local traders.
Angel Addo 17, who sung at the event alongside Briz said: “I am grateful to Discover Young Hackney for giving me this opportunity to perform to a live audience.”
The event was a great success, there was something for everyone from chilled craft in the community garden, to a lively knees up with the Pearly Kings and Queens and listening to Hoxton radio. It was also the perfect opportunity for residents to get information they need from the Council while they shop and have fun under the sun. Loads of residents signed up to vote and the recycling team gave away hundreds of food waste bags. I can’t wait for the next event.
Residents can visit Hoxton Market every Saturday 9-4pm. View pictures from the event.