Published on 11 July 2025, by Wilhelmina Bunn

Last weekend, Nine Elms came alive with laughter, creativity, and community spirit as the Happy Streets Festival made its much-anticipated return. Our Nine Elms Music and Arts Team got involved! 

The event, held around St George’s Primary School, brought hundreds of families together to enjoy a sun-soaked (and occasionally breezy!) afternoon packed with colour, music, and heartwarming moments. From the moment the event started at noon, visitors were greeted with the sounds of live music and the buzz of children dashing between workshops, storytelling tents, and performance spaces. One of the highlights was the craft zone, where budding artists got busy with paints, glue, and recycled materials. The joy and focus on their faces said it all – this was hands-on creativity at its best. Workshops were artfully organised and run by Catherine Walker and Blanca Romera De Claver, Nicola Bellinfantie, Rebecca Rushworth and our very own Catherine Carr.

A particularly popular activity was stone painting, where children transformed smooth pebbles into vibrant paperweights using paint, stickers, and imagination. As the wind picked up in the afternoon, these little works of art proved extra useful – holding down drawings and paintings that might otherwise have blown away! A perfect example of creative fun meeting practical thinking.

The workshops, run in collaboration with local artists, encouraged kids to explore and experiment – from puppet-making to mask design. Parents joined in too, snapping photos and lending a hand, adding to the warm, community-led feel of the day.

Elsewhere in the festival, the pop-up theatre delighted audiences with interactive shows, while musicians roamed the site, adding an upbeat soundtrack to the day. Food stalls dotted the streets, offering everything from fruity ice lollies to locally-made snacks, ensuring energy levels stayed high throughout.

Happy Streets is more than just a fun day out – it’s a celebration of what makes Nine Elms special: its people, its creativity, and its strong sense of togetherness. Events like these remind us that public spaces can become playgrounds, art studios, and theatres – if only for a day.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, and to the artists, volunteers, and partners who made it all possible – especially Wandsworth Council, Jellyfish Theatre, and our brilliant host school, St George’s.

Until next year – stay playful, stay kind, and keep the Happy Streets spirit alive!