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Please note, Festival 14 has now passed. However, you can find plenty of other exciting things to do in Canary Wharf this summer here.
As London festivals go, Festival14 is our number one.
Why? Well, for one, it’s got a varied line-up of live music, top-drawer DJs, comedy, and theatre, as well as the odd workshop for kids; for two, it’s almost totally free, and for three… it all takes place around Canary Wharf – which is on the Elizabeth line, and therefore officially convenient for every one of your mates to get together for one sun-drenched day of cocktails and dancing.
Or even all five days.
You can check out the full programme of events here, but a few choice highlights for your calendar include…
THE MUSIC
Taking to the main stage in the leafy Canada Square Park this year are Craig Charles, bringing his legendary flair for funk mixes on Thursday night; 90s icons Soul II Soul taking over on Friday; the amazing Yazmin Lacey followed by none other than Norman Jay MBE on Saturday; and, closing out the festival on Sunday, Afro-jazz band Nubiyan Twist and the celebrated jazz orchestra of Ronnie Scott’s in Soho. And yes, every single one of these performances is free. Then there’s…
THE COMEDY
In the more intimate setting of a tent pitched up in Montgomery Square, these comedy nights are ticketed separately – and you’ll want to jump on that, because the line-up includes Paul Chowdhry, Lou Sanders, Desiree Burch, Stephen Bailey, Tatty Macleod and Shaparak Khorsandi among many other professional rib-ticklers. (Book here.)
EVERYTHING ELSE
Because packing out these musical and comedy gigs are a whole host of additional events, including workshops with The Loss Project and The Fandangoe Kid that discuss dealing with everything from break-ups to political rage; a free poetry evening featuring performances from Belinda Zhawi, Lanaire Aderemi and Brother Portrait, who’ll share their individual takes on Black heritage and community; a raucous evening of Massaoke; and a whole host of family-friendly events, from pop-up plays in the hidden jungle that is the Crossrail Place Roof Garden, to family raves with Big Fish Little Fish.
And their DJs are off the scales.
PLEASE NOTE: Festival14 took place from Wednesday 26th – Sunday 30th July 2023 across Canary Wharf.
While you’re in the area… check out all these other great summery things to do in Canary Wharf