Festival of the Dead

That first Festival of the Dead in 2022 was a shout in the darkness.  There was Covid, a climate crisis, too much death to ignore.  So we hired a band and we made a giant skeleton and we had a big party on the Common to say ‘yes we die, but here’s how we live!’

In 2022 Ogalussa and Grandpa’s Flute were the inspiration with a Mexican Day of the Dead vibe.

In 2023 we explored the Celtic traditions of Samhain and the Celtic shapeshifting puka who wrecked things and kidnaps the unsuspecting to the ‘other side’.

2024 we went back 4,000 to the earliest story - the Epic of Gilgamesh, the king who refused to die.

2025 our theme was The Unquiet Grave with a special event at Streatham Cemetery.

It’s also always free for everyone to enjoy, usually the last weekend of October.

Now the Festival is a regular event, each year with a different theme and underpinning story, and always about life and death.