The Great Get Together is back!
Our free to enter, flagship community event is inspired by and showcases the best of east London, bringing together music, dance, arts, sports and food for all to enjoy.
This year's one-day event is set to the biggest ever as we mark 10 years since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Prepare to be wowed by our main stage line-up, expect breakthrough acts and cutting-edge music brought to you by BBC Music Introducing. Our favourites London School of Samba Parade will bring a fiesta of vibrant colour and rhythmic dance, and Breakin’ Convention are back with their rap lyrics and hip-hop moves - we challenge you not to dance along. Awe-inspiring circus acts, immersive street theatre and an acoustic area jam-packed with up-and-coming local singers, musicians plus poets are sure to keep you entertained throughout the day.
Want to get involved? Our participatory area has plenty for you to get stuck in with; try out roller-skating, t-shirt making, salsa workshops, singing, drumming, make your own masks, and when you’re done, make the day even more memorable with some snaps at our photo booth.
Take part in our East Bank Zone, brought to you in collaboration with our industry leading East Bank partners. From fashion illustration and zine making with UAL’s London College of Fashion to learning about heatwaves through colour changing paints and screen printing with UCL, or to a creativity and innovation workshop with experts from the V&A. Plus, For the more energetic of you, have a go at a range of sports including cycling, rowing on the waterways, and racing on our world-class track. If you’re coming along with the little ones, funfair rides, face painting, and storytelling will be sure to keep them busy.
And if all that leaves you feeling a tad peckish, we don’t blame you. Our range of delicious food and beverage on the day will be guaranteed to leave your tastebuds satisfied and your bellies full.
So, what are you waiting for? Spread the word and register your interest to find out more.
Please note that the timings are subject to change and that we will be updating the programme if necessary. We recommend making a note of this page so you can double check before you go!
Plan your day
Be sure to plan your day ahead of the event. Find the easiest routes to the Park and a map of The Great Get Together below.
Great Get Together Schedule
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Art Matters - Creative art workshops for young people
Rose Hill - Team t-shirt painting, create your very own Olympic and Paralympic team uniform
I-Gen Alpha Workshop - Upcycle a t-shirt or hoodie and model your creation in the fun photo booth
Mary Ward Centre - Make a colourful paper pinwheel or decorate a kite
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Girlguiding - Come and tell your memories of the London 2012 Games and make something special
Artlympics with Veronica Rowlands - Have a go at a series of creative Olympic and Paralympic themed activities
Social Ark Family - Come and have a go at a range of fun interactive workshops with young local entrepreneurs
Here Us - A creative making workshop to express your identity and interests
International Quarter London - Join East London Tales to create some ‘yarn bombing’ materials and decorate a portable orchard on the Park -
12.00 – 15.00 Staffordshire University - Showcasing Esports, concept art and computer science course
12.00 – 16.30 V&A East, Making Space, Space for Making - Quilt making with Sew Social Newham, Risograph poster printing with Sahra Hersi and the Big Family Press construct benches for adventure playgrounds with Build Up, create and play with Young V&A
12.00 – 18.00 Breakin' Convention - Join the annual youth stage takeover to celebrate local young creatives showcasing their talent, performing from various projects throughout the year live on stage
12.00 – 18.00 UCL with Output Arts - Come to the Department for Impossible Administration ‘DIA’ and collect your free award!
12.00 – 18.00 Here East - Children’s science workshops with build your own kite and build the strongest rivet
13.00 – 17.00 UAL's London College of Fashion - Come and try the zinemaking and fashion illustration workshop
18.00 – 21.00 UCL with Thermointeractive Collective - Join researchers from UCL to create your own screen printing with paints that change colour in the heat -
Active Newham - Come and try Commonwealth Games
Discover Storytelling Centre - Pirates take over drop in session
Face painting
Funfair
Makendo - Mask making workshop
Circus workshops with Showtime Circus
Parkour - Have a go at fun and daring parkour -
12.00 Gamesmaker Choir
12.45 Boxercise with Truce 'N' Train
13.30 Salsa workshop with Erika Gil-Gordillo
14.15, 15.45 Brass Volcanos
15.00 Eternal Taal
16.30 Performance by Tiwa King
16.45 Spoken word with Dialect Dee and Abstract Benna
17.30 Queer Salsa
18.00 Performances by True Candence and Sirlute Charity
18.45 Open mic performance
19.30 Bowjangles
20.12 Cauldron flame goes down -
Ice cream vans
Loaded fries
Bagel Box
Noodle Bar
Burgers
Pasty Kitchen
Indian cuisine
South African food
Jerk chicken
Pimm's & Heineken Bar
Kebabs
Kiosks; All Stars Kitchen, Dessert Ice Cream Club, Taverna in the Park, Viva Vegan -
12.00, 15.45, 18.00 Bowjangles
12.45 Brass Volcanos
13.30 Eternal Taal
14.15 Games Maker Choir
15.00 X7eaven Performance
16.30 Games Maker Choir
17.15 Mbilla Arts
18.45 Spoken word with Zak -
12.00 – 12.30 St. Helen’s Primary School with a salsa fused hip-hop performance
12.45 – 12.49 Sadler’s Wells presents: Amari Webb-Martin and Skiye Edmond’s The Garden
12.49 – 13.09 Sadler’s Wells presents: Artistry Youth Dance Senior Company and Alumni
13.09 – 13.15 Sadler’s Wells presents: Far From Norm (extract)
13.30 – 14.00 UD Flames Collective
14.15 – 14.45 Deaf Rave
15.05 – 15.50 BBC Singers, NewYVC and Repz
16.10 – 16.20 Sadler’s Wells presents: Rambert Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby (extract)
16.24 – 16.30 Sadler’s Wells presents: Far From Norm (extract)
16.30 – 16.50 London School of Samba
16.50 – 17.30 TC & The Groove Family
17.50 – 18.35 Breakin’ Convention takeover
19.00 – 19.25 BBC Music Introducing - All Day Breakfast
19.45 – 20.10 BBC Music Introducing - Stretch
20.30 – 21.00 BBC Music Introducing - Hak Baker -
12.15 – 12.45 Adore Dance performance and workshop
13.00 – 14.00 Singing workshop with Aga Serugo-Lugo and BBC Singers
14.15 – 14.45 Sadler's Wells presents: Family dance workshops
15.00 – 5.45 Mbilla Arts and Somos Chibchas - African drumming performance & workshop with Colombian dance
15.45 – 16.05 UAL's London College of Fashion - Student fashion show
16.05 – 16.35 Queer Salsa dance workshop
16.50 – 17.10 London School of Samba
17.30 – 17.50 Basketball tricks with Andrew Wilding
18.10 – 18.40 Luna Marie Music
19.00 – 19.30 X7eaven - Young performers -
Badu Sports Day - Old school sports day events with music and prizes (Community Track)
West Ham United Foundation - The Great Mile run and football activities (Community Track)
Skate Cabal and Skate Gals and Pals - Try some skateboarding or watch rollerskating (beside the Community Track)
Rugby League World Cup - Come and see the trophies and find out about the tournament (beside the Community Track)
Bikeworks - Come and ride a bike for all abilities (Stadium Island)
Lee Valley Park in partnership with GLL - Come and try short tennis, watt bike challenge and balance bike (Stadium Island)
London Youth Rowing - Have a go at rowing and kayaking (Pontoon by London Aquatics Centre)
London Pulse - Play Netball with London Pulse (Copper Box Arena 3pm – 5pm) -
12.00, 18.00 AJ James 'This Way Up'
12.30, 14.30, 16.30 Anna Hulagan hula hoop workshop
13.00, 15.00, 17.00 Fairly Famous Family performance
13.30, 15.30, 17.30 Jon Hicks artist performance
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What is the Great Get Together Event about?
The Great Get Together is a free outdoor festival taking place at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This is an annual event which was previously called the Big Lunch. The event has been running for 10 years and this year is a larger celebration of the 10-year Anniversary of the Park.
The event will be a celebratory festival style event with a combination of live entertainment including music, dance, street theatre, sports activities and workshops from a variety of local providers.
The Great Get Together aims are:- To celebrate the community of east London and to reminisce on the famous summer of 2012 and all the incredible developments and opportunities that have come from the London 2012 games.
- To welcome the local community onto Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to experience everything the Park has to offer now and, in the future, showcasing that there is something for everyone.
- To inspire local communities, groups and organisations about what the next 10 years has in store.
There seems to be something being built on the Park – why can’t I get round the Stadium Island?
Access to the Stadium Island has been temporarily cordoned off to ensure safe working practices whilst the event is being built.
How long will the restricted access be in place for?
The build for the event starts on Thursday 21 July – Friday 22 July / Event is on Saturday 23 July / Break will be on Sunday 24 July.
What time does the event start & finish?
Event open: 12pm
Event close: 9pm
Where in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is the event?
The event is located in the south of the Park, with content taking place on Mandeville Place, Tessa Jowell Boulevard, Fountain Rooms and Stadium Island.
I require Blue Badge parking, where can I park?
Blue badge parking is available at the following locations:- London Aquatics Centre
- Copper Box Arena
- Lee Valley VeloPark
- Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
- Timber Lodge Café (on-street parking only)
Blue Badge Holders are able to use all car parks without being limited to venues only. All holders are exempt from the car parking charges on displaying a valid blue badge on exit. Once you arrive at the car park exit, simply press the intercom button and once the Parking Services Team have verified your blue badge, the barrier arm will lift.
Road Closures
To facilitate the safe movement of people around the festival site, a road closure will be implemented. On Saturday 23 July between 6am–11:30pm the road will be closed at Marshgate Lane between the Stadium and Waterden Road. Starting at Basset Lane, the diversion routes will have localised signage in place for the duration of the event.
Mobility arrangements?
The Park run a Mobility Buggy Service which will assist you in moving around the event and the wider Park. Please note there will be some changes to the route, the buggy will not be going to Lee Valley VeloPark or to the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre during the operation for Great Get Together. The service will run from 11.30am–10pm on the following route and will be subject to change on the day dependent on event movement, and volume of crowds in specific areas. Call 0800 0722110 for more information.
Is the event wheelchair user friendly?The event site is accessible for wheelchair users and has been designed to ensure that level routes are provided across the whole Park.
Where are the accessible toilets?
Toilets located next to the Last Drop Café has x 1 Changing Places toilet. Stadium Island has x 1 Changing Places toilet. There will also be additional accessible toilets installed as part of the event. These accessible toilets can be found:- Near to Park Information Tent, which is located on the bridge between London Aquatic Centre and the Stadium
- Near to the Main Stage, which is located next to the bell on Stadium Island
- Near to the West Ham Shop
What are the expected number of attendees?
We expect the event to be very busy throughout the day.
It sounds busy – will there be somewhere quiet to go?
The event is in the south of the Park. There will be organised tours to the London Blossom Garden and the Great British Gardens which will be quiet.
Will there be food and drinks available?In addition to the Park Kiosks, the Last Drop Café and the Last Drop Terrace; there will be a variety of concessions that refreshments can be purchased from, offering a wide range of food and beverage options, with vegetarian, vegan and halal Options on offer. These can be found on Stadium Island and Mandeville Place.
Do I need to bring anything to the event?
Just yourselves! You do not require a ticket to enter. Please bear in mind that all the activity tales place outdoors, so remember to check the weather forecast before you leave the house and be prepared for a range of changeable weather conditions.
Will there be an Information Point at the event?
Our very own Park Champions will be running an information point which will be a hub of information about the event. This will be situated on the bridge by the London Aquatics Centre. There will be dedicated Event Security provision onsite to be able to assist people – please look out for anyone in a high visibility should you need to get in touch.
Will there be toilets and baby changing facilities?
There is a dedicated baby changing space next to the Park Information Tent. There will be staff and signs providing directions to where the toilets & baby change facilities are.
Will there be access to drinking water?
There is access to free water on site at the first aid point, in addition to this bottled water will be available to buy from stalls. There will also be water coolers available in the welfare areas.
Will the fountains be on?
The fountains will be on between 12–4pm. Please note that the timings of the fountains are subject to change.
Can I bring my dog?
The Great Get Together is open and free to access. Whilst we welcome dogs onto the Park, please note that the event will be very busy and most of the areas are hard standing.
It looks like there is a funfair – how long is this on for?
There is a small funfair, located in Mandeville Place, running as part of the event.
It might rain at the event – is there anything indoors?
Whilst a lot of the event is open air there are some activities which take place in covered marquees.Is everything at The Great Get Together free? Will I have to pay for anything?
With the exception of the fun fair rides and food stalls, all activities, performances and workshops are free of charge for you to enjoy.