The much-loved, free community festival marked the end of Urban Food Fortnight 2016, London Food Link’s city-wide celebration of London’s vibrant local food scene. 

Highlights included: 

- The internationally acclaimed PIG, by Whalley Range All Stars (WRAS), a truly original installation and show inside a 30-foot long sleeping sow; 

- The Green Man, a lyrical spoken work interactive show for young audiences, which took place at Mobile Garden City; 

- Cirque du Surplus with food waste campaign This-is Rubbish, immersive performances and games on the theme of food waste; 

- Live music and barn dancing with Laurel Swift & the Ceilidh Allstars and Robin Grey & Friends; 

- Workshops and demonstrations from Cordwainers Grow, Hackney Herbal and Kenneth Greenway from Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetary Park; 

- and some of east London’s best local food including grilled cheese sandwiches from The Cheese Truck, handmade gin sorbets from Sloshed, the Jamboree Tasting Table with East End Jam, and the Mason & Company bar, normally based at Here East, who showcased craft beers from Five Points Brewing Company. 

The competition for Cream of the Crop – the festival’s local food contest – was tougher than ever, with Lorraine Hourdebaigt winning Best in Show for her raspberry jam; and Harvey, a Jack Russell-Cross from Newham, scooping Best in Class for the ‘Best Dressed Harvest Festival Themed Dog’, dressed as a pea! 

The Pea Games was once again a hit with young festival goers – particularly the Human Fruit Machine and Grape Stomping, with grapes kindly donated from Montgomery Wholesale and Abel & Cole. 

Groundwork’s Ben Coles, Director Communities & Environmental Services, said: “We’re thrilled to have been able to shine a light on local food production, sustainability, community participation, music and the arts at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park again this year. So great to see so many people enjoying everything Harvest Stomp had to offer and the feedback we've received has been amazing. We’d like to thank everyone who helped make The Harvest Stomp 2016 possible, and hope we’ll see you all again next year”. 

Paul Brickell, London Legacy Development Corporation, said “Harvest Stomp was a storming success. It was wonderful to see so many local people joining in the celebrations on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. We had some fantastic entries into the closely-fought Cream of the Crop contest and it was great to see everyone trying out various activities including barn 

dancing, Morris dancing, bulb planting and even pea fete games. We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year!”