Urban Elephant Festival Returns for Another Year
Urban Elephant is back - a festival of friendship, understanding and celebration. World fusion and cross-cultural collaboration take centre stage in Elephant and Castle this September as the festival will animate the beloved London district.
From 13th - 15th September, Elephant and Castle locals AND Londoners, tourists and beyond can join in the music, dancing and smiles for FREE. Making a splash with an even bigger and better lineup of performers; the festival is guaranteed to delight and make for a joyful and free London weekend.
The festival will kick off at Castle Square on Friday 13th at midday with art workshops by Arts in the Park before the evening brings a showcase of Latin dance and music as well as performances and food from around the globe. Off with a bang at 3 pm, the festival will begin with an electric opening parade before being followed by performances from Portuguese, Spanish, Venezuelan, Colombian, South African, Polish and Bangladeshi dance troops throughout the evening.
Saturday 14th will see the festival travel beyond Castle Square to Elephant Park, Sayer Street and Walworth Square as the four venues come together to create the ‘World on one Street’ event, full of dance, music, drama and art. Circus artists, drumming groups, street performances and dance troops from a world of cultures including Hawaiian and Peruvian plus fitness and dance classes truly makes this a day for the whole family, with something for everyone.
The final day of the festival on Sunday 15th takes a forward-looking route as 30 local partners, performers, councillors and representatives from the diverse communities of Elephant and Castle and surrounding boroughs come together to discuss connection-making via art and creativity.
Supported by Southwark Councils, Thriving High Streets and Neighbourhood Funding, Get Living, L&Q, Notting Hill Genesis, and North Walworth Councillors, the vibrant weekend will offer a valuable opportunity for the local community of Elephant and Castle and Londoners to unite, exchange ideas, and collaborate culturally. Building on the achievements of the past two years, Urban Elephant 2024 will celebrate the essence of being a cultural melting pot and the significance of sharing traditions through artistic performances.
John Whelan, Urban Elephant Creative Director commented:
“We are thrilled to unveil the electrifying lineup for Urban Elephant Festival 2024! Get ready for a weekend brimming with vibrant cross-cultural fusion through mesmerising street performance, captivating dance, and exhilarating music. This free festival is your gateway to forging connections between the new and the traditional communities in Elephant and the wider Walworth area. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of local businesses, showcasing an array of incredible offers, exciting promotions, and dynamic pop-up events as part of the UE 24. Join us in celebrating the dynamic fusion of our local cultures, brought to life in a festival like no other!”
The full festival is entirely free for guests to enjoy, and the timetable is below. For more information and for the detailed line-up please visit the Urban Elephant website: urbanelephant.co.uk/.
Urban Elephant Festival 2024 Timetable
World Fusion - Friday 13th September 3 pm - 9 pm: Castle Square, 40 Elephant Rd, London SE17 1EU.
World on one Street - Saturday 14th September 12pm - 6pm: Across Elephant and Castle.
World Forum -Elephant Park- Sunday 15th September 2 pm - 4 pm: Invite only.
About Castle Square
Castle Square is a new addition to Elephant and Castle, creating the perfect gateway into Elephant Park and is home to an eclectic mix of local independent traders. It represents the heart of a wider retail and leisure offer which includes Ash Avenue and Elephant Central. It’s home to fashion, textiles, electrical products and services and some of the most delicious cafés and restaurants available locally. Easily accessible, Castle Square is located just 5 minutes’ walk from Elephant and Castle tube station and directly opposite Elephant and Castle train station and adjacent to the Sainsbury’s store at 50 New Kent Road.
For more information, please visit: https://www.castlesquarelondon.com and Instagram @castlesquarelondon
About Elephant Park
Lendlease is working in partnership with Southwark Council to deliver Elephant Park, a £2.5bn transformation project in Elephant and Castle. The vision for Elephant Park is to create one of the world’s most sustainable inner-city urban regeneration projects and deliver long-term social value for existing communities. The development spans more than 10 hectares and is set around a new two-acre leafy park. It will include around 3,200 new homes, over 50 retail and leisure units, and flexible workspaces.