The Hammersmith BID Summer Festival, which ran throughout June and July 2019 with big screen entertainment, historic walks and outdoor activities, and the final event, Lyric Fest, produced a significant boost for the town centre.
Visitors, residents and employees coming into Hammersmith at lunchtimes were able to soak up some of the summer sun with Picnic in the Square. Free deckchairs and picnic tables were laid out for all, allowing al fresco dining in the heart of the town centre.
For those more curious about Hammersmith’s history, free guided walks exploring Hammersmith’s connections to the world of entertainment allowed those that joined to learn about some of the area’s most famous residents and discover a lost station in Hammersmith, looking back over 150 years of the District Line.
Others who wanted to kick-start their summer with a new exercise programme were able to join Lumi Power Yoga, Frame, Fitness First and Virgin Active for wellbeing and movement sessions in the sunshine. Or if visitors wanted to get back to nature, they explored the Hammersmith BID and Lyric beehives, as part of the Mayor of London’s National Park City Festival.
The future of Hammersmith was imagined as entries from the public ideas competition to generate proposals for a Hammersmith Highline, on a disused railway viaduct, went on display at Kings Mall. Organised by Hammersmith BID and local architect group West London Link, the competition created ideas that could transform the 300m elevated stretch of viaduct into an attraction similar to New York City’s High Line.
There was entertainment for all with the Big Screen. Working with The Royal Opera House and BP Big Screens, Lyric Square became the setting for the wonderful operas Carmen and The Marriage of Figaro. Movie lovers were not left disappointed as the much-loved Mamma Mia and Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again hit the Big Screen, with people grabbing the opportunity to nab a deck chair, sing along and enjoy the free shows. Plus, there was plenty for sports fans to enjoy with Wimbledon screened live throughout the tournament and the ICC Cricket World Cup final also shown, creating a buzzing atmosphere as visitors were able to watch history in the making.
The festival then culminated with Lyric Fest, organised by the Lyric Theatre, in association with Hammersmith BID.
Lyric Fest weekend kicked off with the 10-year celebration of the HammersmithLondon Roof Garden, with a gathering in the garden at the Lyric Theatre and speeches from Patricia Bench, Director, Hammersmith BID and Adam White, Director, Davies White, who originally designed the gardens. These were followed by performances from Kal Lavelle and Emily Mutaako and the cutting of a celebratory cake.
This provided the perfect opener to the Family Fun Saturday with shows by Face Plant Theatre, Tiny Dancers Rave, Sticky Back Theatre, Griot Chinyere, Conrad Murray and Folk Dance Remix, alongside street performers, face painting and outdoor games for all the family, keeping visitors entertained throughout the day.
Patricia Bench, Director, Hammersmith BID said: “It has been an amazing couple of months, with so much available for all in Hammersmith to enjoy, whether its sports, theatre or music there was something for everyone. It has been great to see so many smiling faces and the community all coming together to take part in these events, we could not have done it without the help and support of all of our partners, performers and the visitors who joined us.”
