Genre Mixed Location(s) Bow, London, England Founded by Local residents | Dates Early September Years active 2003-present | |
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St Barnabas Community Fete (Bowstock) is an annual festival (or fête) held on Wennington Green in Mile End Park, Bow, London, England. It is run by local volunteers, who started the fete in 2003 as a non-religious, participatory, free and not-for-profit festival to:
Big names (including Babar Luck, The Beat, Black Daniel, The Blockheads, The Bollywood Brass Band, Chas'n'Dave, Saynab Cige, The Dhol Foundation, Heavy Load, Joi, Finley Quaye (a surprise guest at the first fete in 2003), Alaur Rahman, DJ Ritu, Sham 69, Neville Staple, U.K Subs, and Jah Wobble) play alongside acts from local schools and the community.
Around the live music stage, the organisers provide an information marketplace for community groups, and a range of activities for all ages, including a tea dance and extreme sports.
The 2007 St Barnabas Community Fete featured as a case study in the 'Community' section of the Living Britain report published by Zurich and The Future Laboratory, which includes an interview with the fete's director, Father Brian Ralph, vicar of St Barnabas Bethnal Green.