Spring/Summer 2026
Drum Workshop
Saturday, 11th July
“African drumming is the beat of the heart; the pulse of the blood; the rhythm of life – a celebration of the spirit as old as mankind”
Learn the basics of ghanian drumming in the beautiful setting of the garden with Master drummer Abass Dodoo.
All ages welcome. Absolutely Free!
Art in the Garden
Saturday, 4th July
Join artist Cecily Loveys Jervoise in the hoxton Garden on Saturday 4th for a relaxing and creative session of Clay building.
All ages welcome. Absolutely Free!
Hackney Community Orchestra
Saturday, June 27th
Have a picnic and enjoy the sounds of the Hackney Community Orchestra. Their repertoire ranges from baroque to pop and ragtime to tango.
Windrush Celebration
Saturday, June 20th
Come and Join the Grand Union Band (from the Grand Union Orchestra) in the garden playing their own unique blend of Big Band and Global Music to celebrate the Windrush Generation.
In addition we have local singer Angenita Blackwood and the New Age Inspirational singers performing a selection of West Indian Classics.
Refreshments available.
Health and Wellbeing Sundays
Every Sunday throughout the summer (unless its raining)
For the past 3 years Sundays have evolved into a day of health and wellbeing. We kick off at 10 am with a relaxing medatative session of Tai Chi with Shaybah, followed by a fantastic yoga session with Aristea or Chiara and finally a wonderful zumba workout with Carole. Many people do 2 sessions. Come along and join in. Its all free and makes you feel great!
Hoxton Community Garden Plant Sale, Brass Band and Activities. Saturday June 6th, 2026
The garden and our Yard always look stunning at the beginning of June and this year for one day only we will be open for people across London to come and visit us as part of the London Open Gardens.
“London Open Gardens 2026, gives exclusive access to more than a hundred of the capital’s parks, gardens and squares, most of which are not normally open to the public.
In addition to the main programme, Behind-the-Scenes tours, guided walks and cycle tours are curated specifically for this weekend and will be announced in the coming weeks”
This year we will have the London Metropolitan band playing at lunchtime,arts and crafts activities in the afternoon for anyone wishing to participate and several guided tours throughout the day with our lead gardener Stephen Mason. There will also be a variety of plants on sale from the Yard and refreshments will be available.
ELSF perform Will Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ – Thursday 11th and Friday 12th June
They’re back with the one we’ve all been waiting for. It’s going to be fantastic. More information and tickets to follow.
“The course of true love never did run smooth”
East London Shakespeare Festival presents…
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Bursting with mischief, chaos, romance and magic, this joyful, family-friendly outdoor production reimagines Shakespeare’s hilarious comedy with a bold splash of contemporary flair. Escape into the enchanted forest alongside Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius as they get more than they bargained for, when a vibrant cast of magical woodland fairies take matters into their own hands.
With ELSF’s signature high-energy numbers, slapstick comedy, and audience participation, this is Shakespeare for everyone! Alongside a community engagement programme with lots of opportunities to get involved.
Romance, magic, feral foraging fairies – what more could you want to bring your summer to life?!
“You have but slumber’d here, while these visions did appear”
“The East London Shakespeare Festival was founded by Ursula Early and Rosie Ward
They met while doing outdoor Shakespeare and now ‘the wheel is come full circle’ … it is their shared enthusiasm for creating fun, accesible events in beautiful local spaces, which sparked the idea behind the birth of the East London Shakespeare Festival.”