Barking Riverside is one of Europe’s most exciting new neighbourhoods, set on 2 km of Thames River front. On Saturday 3rd December it will host its biggest ever event, Emerge East, welcoming Londoners to experience the creativity, community and nature this emerging new area has to offer.
With a jam-packed schedule of activities running from 11am through to 8.30pm, Emerge East will take visitors on a journey of discovery – tasting local home-cooked food, shopping from independent businesses, exploring the area with nature walks, or learning about stargazing – plus music, entertainment and plenty of free fun for kids.
Highlights include the Riverside Sauna where visitors can experience the feel-good benefits of deep heat, cold contrast and delicious steam alongside a range of sauna rituals from around the world. Two pop-up saunas, ice cold plunge pools and bucket showers will be stationed on the banks of the River Thames, giving visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in a breath-taking outdoor sauna experience.
For those searching for an evening of light entertainment, from 6.30pm guests will be invited onto a moored Uber Boat by Thames Clippers vessel for a session of Indeedy Musical Bingo on a Boat, giving participants a chance to guess the song for points and prizes.
A unique food and drink offer will be available, with an array of cuisines suitable for all tastebuds. Close to the riverfront, a home cook area will feature a selection of food-loving residents who will present their home prepared dishes to guests, offering a taste of Barking from 12pm to 3pm. The home cook event will be hosted by Bola Obileye, well known for her appearance on Gordon Ramsey’s ‘Future Food Stars’, and more recently appearing on Channel 4’s ‘Steph’s Packed Lunch’.
Throughout the day, a variety of street food traders will be serving up their signature dishes, accompanied by a cocktail bar with special Winter Warmers and soundtracked by the line-up of vinyl-spinning Emerge East DJ collective. Next to the street food traders, the Emerging Makers Market will present a selection of clothing, gifts and lifestyle products from up-and-coming makers.
Visitors can join free creative workshops to decorate their own Festive Fir tree to take home, make wreaths and kites, upcycle clothes and craft unique tree decorations with recycled materials, plus plenty more for all.
Following the opening of the brand-new Overground station and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers pier in the past few months, Barking Riverside is easier to reach than ever before. Frequent local buses also serve the area.
Emerge East is free to visit, with tickets on sale for the Riverside Sauna (£12). The Emerging Makers Market as well as the food offer is affordably priced to allow as many people as possibly to experience this new corner of London.
The event is supported by TfL; Uber Boat by Thames Clippers; housing association L&Q; ecology experts Arcus Consultancy Services; Acre Landscapes; Swedish waste management company Envac; house builder Bellway London and construction engineers McLaughlin & Harvey. It is curated by Hemingway Design.
For more information and to book tickets, please visit: www.emergeeast.uk
