On Sunday 23 June a feast of colour, flavour and festivities descended on the Park for the third annual Great Get Together. Over 10,000 people packed up a picnic and gathered in the fields in the north of the Park to experience music, dance, crafts, story-telling, art and amazing food at the free family festival.

Highlights from the event included a mass sing-along of ‘What a Wonderful World’ with the melodic BBC Singers, dance performances from local schools presented by Sadler’s Wells, Phoenix Dance Theatre’s performance of an excerpt from Sharon Watson’s Windrush: Movement of the People and the dance crews, rappers and graffiti artists of the Breakin’ Convention tent. There were also lots of chances to get involved from making a tin aeroplane and 3D printing with the V&A, Shawn the Sheep model making with the British Council or come and try sports with Active Newham. And for those who needed a little break from the action, there was a Comfort Zone set up by the STEP Interns in association with Foundation for FutureLondon. Guests could do yoga and meditation, share their memories of east London and even take part in Worldwide FM Radio interviews.

And the event came to a spectacular close as a parade featuring Samba dancers from the London School of Samba and performers in amazing costumes made by the London College of Fashion danced their way through the Park.

Hosted as part of a nationwide celebration of our different communities and organised in partnership with the Jo Cox Foundation and The Big Lunch campaign, the Great Get Together brought together local talent and world-class performers at the Park. The event offered visitors a great place to enjoy a family day out and support local talent whilst also learning more about the amazing institutions coming to East Bank – the BBC, Sadler’s Wells, the Smithsonian Institution, UAL’s London College of Fashion, University College London and the V&A - and what they are already doing in the local area.