Sport, music and spectacular acts at this year's Go Islington Festival

Live music, street dance, archery, mixed martial arts and a daredevil aerial cage act are among the highlights of Go Islington Festival at Highbury Fields on Saturday (22 July).

The free event, which runs from 11am-4pm, is a celebration of sport, dance and music, featuring loads of different activities and demonstrations and is open to everyone.

More than 20 different sports will be available for people to try, including boxing, archery, table tennis, cricket and mixed martial arts. There will be live music and the chance to have a go at salsa and street dance.

Highlights this year include the ‘Wheel of Death’, a spectacular act performed by the Vander Brothers, who rotate two cages at ever increasing speeds and as high as 11m off the ground; the chance to see live snakes close up; and a strongman for anyone feeling energised to test their strength against for the chance to win £1,000.

For families and young children there will be a range of sporting activities for under-sevens, a singing and dancing marquee and trampolining.

Teenagers can head down to the Launchpad Stage for live performances by young people from Lift, Platform and Rose Bowl youth hubs. They can also get the ‘festival look’ at the face-painting stall.

Free bicycle repairs are also on offer, as well as information about how to get more active in Islington, and how you can get involved in improving your local park. The festival is Islington’s first smoke-free event and there will be health and community stalls with information about healthy lifestyles, health checks, giving up smoking and more.

Cllr Janet Burgess, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Go Islington is a fantastic community event offering something for everyone, young and old. There are so many different sports to have a go at and spectacular demonstrations to watch, you are bound to discover something new and exciting.
“I encourage everyone to put this date in their diary and head down to Highbury Fields on Saturday 22 July to experience the fun and try something new!”

Find out more at www.islington.gov.uk/goislington or search #GoIslington

For further information please contact:
Chris Roe, Senior Media Officer
Tel: 020 7527 8751 
Mob/out of hours: 07769 163303 
Email: chris.roe@islington.gov.uk 
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