24 July 2023
The Woolwich Lates programme is heating up this summer, featuring a series of free events to encourage people of all ages to make the best of everything Woolwich has to offer in the evening.
The programme is delivered as part of the Mayor of London’s Night Time Enterprise Zone, which the Royal Borough of Greenwich secured last November. The initiative is aimed at boosting our high streets and increasing activity after 6pm, for the benefit of residents and local businesses.
From a breathtaking high-wire spectacle, a giant puppetry parade and experimental poetry performances to a curated art trail, family holiday fun events and markets open late, there is something for everyone.
Councillor Mariam Lolavar, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Business and Skills, said: “Woolwich Lates builds on the exciting range of top attractions, arts, culture and food options there are in Woolwich. We encourage people to come out for one of these fabulous Woolwich Lates events and to support local businesses by making a full day of it at one of the restaurants, cafes, bars or entertainment venues in the area. We can’t wait to welcome residents and visitors to Woolwich to show what the town centre and high streets have to offer after 6pm, boost our high streets and support local businesses.”
Councillor Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Equality, Culture and Communities, said, “The Woolwich Lates programme offers many opportunities to come together to enjoy leisure, art and culture activities, connecting us with the places and people around us. All the events, from the extended Holiday Fun Fridays to the Hi! Street Fest Finale in September, are free and family-friendly, so everyone, including our youngest residents, can access them over the summer holidays. These events also shine a light on the incredible work local culture, leisure and community organisations are doing in the area.”
Woolwich is home to some outstanding spots in which to spend the evenings with family or friends.
Whether you’re heading to a comedy show at Tramshed, exploring London’s newest creative district Woolwich Works, immersing yourself in Punchdrunk’s epic theatre show The Burnt City, or enjoying a meal at one of the independent restaurants, bars, cafes or bustling markets, there’s something for everyone in Woolwich.
Check out what businesses are in the area to grab some food, drinks or enjoy more entertainment on the Enjoy Local website.
What’s on:
HOLIDAY FUN FRIDAY WITH WOOLWICH LATES
Friday 28 July and 4, 11, 18 and 25 August, 10am to 8pm
General Gordon Square
Holiday Fun Friday is back for the summer holidays. Taking place every Friday from 28 July to 25 August, each event has been extended until 8pm with arts and crafts for the kids, fairground rides and market stalls and special themes and performances as part of Woolwich Lates.
On Friday 28 July join us for Holiday Fun Friday with a fitness twist! Highlights include:
Fitness class tasters with GLL-Better.
Have-a-go at table tennis, basket ball, dance fitness, box fit, boxing, football and other sports.
Pirate trail with character visit from Captain Jack Sparrow
Poet in the City poetry workshops & performances
Arts & crafts
Make your Carnival masks / hats workshop
Giant lawn-games
Face-painting & glitter tattoos
Health MOTs with Charlton Athletic
Meet your local police team
& much more!
Make sure you check out the market stalls serving up fresh street food and healthy snacks on General Gordon Square, or around the corner, at Beresford Square Market.
RUN THE NIGHT
Wednesday 26 July – Wednesday 19 August
Various dates and locations across Woolwich
Run the Night is a summer programme of events for Woolwich locals (and not-so-locals). Music, poetry, discussion and workshops – celebrate the inimitable vibes of this corner of London by night…
EVENTS
RUN THE NIGHT LAUNCH EVENT
Fri 28 Jul | 3 to 5.30pm | FREE | General Gordon Square We kick off our Run the Night in the only place that makes sense – the heart of Woolwich! Join us at General Gordon Sq, to create your own poems and hear fresh new poetry celebrating SE LDN.
EXPERIMENTS IN SOUND Wed 2 Aug | 7:45pm | £3-5 | Tramshed
An experimental night at Tramshed with Woolwich-raised poet and sound artist MA.MOYO (AKA Belinda Zhawi) that fuses archival audio with poetry, soundscapes, and sampled music. With artist mandisa apena. 14+ event
SE TO THE WORLD
Wed 9 Aug | 7:45pm | £3-5 | Woolwich Centre Library
Join Caleb Femi, author of the critically-acclaimed book Poor, to dissect ideas on the commodification of the South London ‘aesthetic’ at Woolwich Centre Library. With Rasheeda Page-Muir, expect lively talk – readings, ramblings and repping SE. 14+ event
RUN THE RIDDIM Wed 16 Aug | 6pm | £5-8 | Tramshed
This celebratory five-hour Tramshed extravaganza opens up decks for the DJs of the world, particularly those new to their practice, before DJ sets from Harietta, Tice Cin, anxious.selecta and Nammy Wams. 18+ event
Visit the website to book.
ROYAL ARSENAL SUMMER LATES
Saturday 5 August & Saturday 2 September, 12noon to 8pm
Artillery Square
Come down for a wonderful selection of street food, ice cream, churros and delicious drinks from the brilliant local market traders from Royal Arsenal Farmers’ Market, with live music, arts and crafts and fairground rides for the kids.
WHICH WOOLWICH STORIES CULTURE TRAIL
Friday 4 August, 4pm to 8pm
Wednesday 9 August, 7pm to 8pm
Saturday 12 August, 6 to 7pm
Wednesday 16 August, 7 to 8pm
Immerse yourself in an arts trail curated by Emergency Exit Arts, celebrating the diverse cultural history of the local area, featuring artists’ interventions across the town centre and high streets.
You are welcome to explore the trail on your own or meet one of our volunteers to guide you on one of several guided tours at Woolwich Front Room.
GREENWICH+DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
Friday 25 August, 7pm
General Gordon Square
For the first time ever, Woolwich will play host to Greenwich+Docklands International Festival’s opening act Open Lines on Friday 25 August, as part of Woolwich Lates.
The thrilling spectacle by French company Basinga will be performed by internationally renowned tight-rope walker Tatiana Mosio Bongonga. With the help of 12 people from the local community, she will make an astonishing crossing, 20 feet above General Gordon Square.
WOOLWICH CARNIVAL
Saturday 16 September, 12noon to 8pm
General Gordon Square and Royal Arsenal
Get lost in the sights and sounds of Woolwich Carnival, with a spectacular parade of dancers, musicians, local people and schools in colourful costumes. TARU’s band will be bringing a taste of Brazil to Woolwich as well as free face painting, live music and arts and crafts throughout the day and into the evening. This event is being hosted in partnership between TARU Arts, Royal Arsenal Riverside, Tramshed, Greenwich Inclusion Project and the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
HI! STREET FEST FINALE
Friday 22 September, 7pm to 8pm
Across Woolwich
Woolwich will come alive with dance, music, song and costume specific to the area to celebrate the return of Woolwich’s own Farrah the Fox. Farrah is a 5-metre tall mechanical puppet of a young fox who is travelling the country on her scooter, bringing a touch of carnival and free street parties to seven high streets. Come and say hi to her and her giant puppet friends as she returns from her journey across the UK.
