Experience Tower Hamlets at the 2019 Festival of Communities

The annual Festival of Communities celebrates the culture and diversity of the extraordinary borough that is Tower Hamlets.

Hosted by Queen Mary University of London and Tower Hamlets’ organisations, the festival is returning for its fourth year to showcase living and learning across the borough.

The festival provides a weekend of family friendly activities, giving visitors the opportunity to get hands on with academic research through games, sports, crafts and much more.

The festival will run over two days starting on Saturday 15 June in Stepney Green Park with the second day on Sunday 16 June at Queen Mary’s Mile End Campus. Both days will run from 11.30am to 4:30pm and attendance is free.

Peter McOwan, Executive Dean for Public Engagement and Student Enterprise at Queen Mary, said: “The festival is an opportunity for all ages to get hands on and explore the ground-breaking research that is happening right on their doorsteps.

“People will get the opportunity to see how Queen Mary researchers are working with our local and international communities on projects that impact society and change lives. This year we have a variety of excellent activities from across the University, linked to our research in fun and creative ways, meaning there is a little something for everyone.”

Over the weekend, visitors will be able to get hands-on with Queen Mary research including seeing the ‘Beeanardo Da Vinci’ bees painting artworks, and use cutting-edge Virtual Reality technology to explore the Hyper-K neutrino detector hidden beneath a mountain in Japan.

Elsewhere visitors will be able to experience life as a Turtle, build their own city to see how your design can effect air pollution, and get crafty with the community mural.

The sporting enthusiasts can test their football skills, take part in the basketball hoop challenge, and scale the climbing wall.

The Festival of Communities is run in collaboration with Tower Hamlets Council, the Stifford Centre, Do Little, and the Salvation Army.

Many local community organisations will be showcasing projects and initiatives for visitors to get involved in across the weekend including St John’s Ambulance, Spitalfields City Farm, and Healthwatch Tower Hamlets.

Joynul Hoque from the Stifford Centre said: “The Festival of Communities is an excellent opportunity for families and residents in the local area to come together and enjoy themselves with friends and neighbours. It promotes community cohesion and understanding amongst the diverse community that makes up the borough.”