The Surbiton Festival is an outdoor event located in the centre of Surbiton, Kingston-Upon-Thames, that has been held annually for the past thirty years.

It is run every 4th Saturday of September and has a wide range of activities including, live music performed by local community groups, family-friendly activities, food and drinks from many different cultures and a parade at midday.

In more detail, it features a bustling street market running through the main road of the town (Victoria Road and additionally St Andrews Road) with artisan craft stalls, multi-cultural food ranging from cakes and ice cream to Spanish street food and German bratwurst and a vast number of local businesses.

The Rock Choir performing at the Surbiton Festival 2024The Rock Choir performing at the Surbiton Festival 2024 (Image: Katherine Chen, Surbiton High School) Local bands performed on stages in Claremont Gardens and St Andrews Square and these showcased local community groups such as Rock Choir, as seen in the image above, and the Guitar & Uke Orchestra, who perform fortnightly in the Kingston area.

Last but not least, also located in Claremont Gardens were many children’s activities including: a teddy bears picnic, face painting and Punch and Judy.

So, how did people find this festival?

Local resident, Jemma thought it was, “good fun” and found the free activities in the kids’ area perfect for her 9 year old daughter.

Oksana, who also came with her young daughter, thought that “there are so many activities and so many stands,” but that she was disappointed that “there are no bathroom facilities, no water and no toilets”.

Dancing at Surbiton Station during the Surbiton Festival 2024Dancing at Surbiton Station during the Surbiton Festival 2024 (Image: Jimin Ahn, Surbiton High School) As the Surbiton Festival continues to expand over the years, it has remained a highlight of the year,, marking the end of summer and  bringing residents together with its multitude of activities engaging all ages so there is something for everyone to enjoy and gives locals an opportunity to celebrate and connect with their community.

So, whether you enjoy watching local bands, seeing parades, eating different delicious delicacies or having your face painted to look like a butterfly, I am certain there is something for you.

Don’t miss next year-mark your calendars for the next time the Surbiton Festival comes around (27th September 2025) and join in the Surbiton spirit!