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Camden News - by SIMON WROE
Published: 26 June 2008

High times at Pond Street festival

WHEN are the historic climes of north London alive with the sound of steel bands and Bollywood banghra? What really gets The Kinks’ Ray Davies going? And where in the world might you see a 15-foot monster parading the streets?
The answer to all of the above is the annual Highgate Festival.
The New Journal-sponsored event drew hundreds to Pond Square on Saturday for its sparkling mixture of music, poetry, food and fun.
Many of Highgate’s famous faces, including comedienne Victoria Wood, actors Phil Davies and Michelle Collins, and musicals impresario Paul Nicholas mingled with the crowds, enjoying the live performances of belly dancing, poetry reading, Caribbean bands and school choirs.
Tarot reading, bee-keeping, and fairground attractions catered for all the ages, and there was a special puppet-making and story-telling corner, courtesy of Lauderdale House, for the huge numbers of excited children.
At the end of the day the children promenaded the square with the fruits of their labour – a massive papier-mâché puppet – before releasing dozens of balloons into the sky for the Whittington Hospital’s Building for Babies appeal. Even the emergency services were letting their hair down, as police and fire crews showed youngsters how to sound the sirens and work the powerful water hose.
According to the Highgate Society’s Christina Nolan, the festival was the biggest and best on record. Food traders had to get extra supplies to deal with the huge crowds and people had to be persuaded to leave at closing time. Ms Nolan said she was still recovering from the festival on Monday, adding: “Even the stallholders were asking us if they had to pack up – there were still loads of people in the square. A good time was had by all.”

* The New Journal stall raised nearly £150 in sales of our commemorative St Pancras International magazine on the big day. Proceeds will be shared between the Highgate Society, Whittington Hospital’s Building for Babies appeal, and the Wilf Slack Youth Cricket Development Trust.

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