Wembley Park Announces Diwali Weekend 2024: A Three-Day Celebration of South Asian Culture, Music and Lights
Wembley Park is excited to unveil its most ambitious Diwali celebration yet: a three-day, free to attend, programme running from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd November 2024, across various venues in the neighbourhood. This dynamic festival will feature an eclectic programme of performances, interactive workshops, and cultural showcases, transforming Northwest London’s neighbourhood and entertainment district into a celebration of South Asian art, culture and traditions.
Friday, 1st November
The celebrations begin with a Diwali Spectacular at London Designer Outlet. From midday, visitors can enjoy upbeat Bhangra music and free body decorations by local henna artists. The event continues from 4:30pm to 6:00pm with the first of the celebration’s high-energy performances by BollyRed Dance Company, and Dhol drummers, setting the tone for the weekend ahead.
Saturday, 2nd November
Wembley Park will light up with the ‘Diwali Utsav: A Celebration of South Asian Arts’ festival at the Sound Shell stage on Olympic Way. From 1:00pm, an eclectic lineup of artists from across South Asian communities worldwide will take the stage. Curated by DJ Ritu MBE and Kate Jones of Found in Music, the festival will celebrate the rich cultural heritage of South Asia.
BollyRed Dance Company return, bringing the vibrant traditions of South India and Gujarat to life through dance, from the energetic movements of Gujarati Garba to the graceful Bharatanatyam poses and dynamic street style from South India. Audiences can join in through interactive workshops.
Representing the Eastern state of Odisha, Maryam Shakiba will perform Odissi, an Indian classical dance form rooted in ancient temple dance practices from the region. Her mesmerising movements, characterised by fluid torso motions and intricate footwork, will be complemented by spoken word poetry by Niroshini Somasundaram.
Three accomplished and versatile musicians, Preetha Narayanan, Giuliano Modarelli and Harkiret Singh Bahra, will offer a pan-Indian musical experience with a contemporary folk-twist. Their trio performance will fuse Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian) classical music styles, using a mix of Western and Indian instruments – violin, guitar, and table – to create a unique, cross-cultural sound.
The Flute Guy will showcase the versatility of the bansuri, a traditional Indian flute with deep roots in hindu mythology. His performance will blend classical Indian ragas with contemporary beats, demonstrating how ancient instruments can adapt to modern musical landscapes. Kalpana Doshi leads her popular Laughter Yoga workshops, promoting wellness and joy.
Performances will culminate with a DJ set by DJ Ritu MBE, a pioneer of the British club scene, at the Sound Shell. The set will be preceded by an electrifying fire dance performance embodying the festival’s essence of light overcoming darkness.
Earlier in the day, families can join free lantern-making workshops at Fresh Arts, an Arts Council England portfolio organisation in the heart of Wembley Park. As dusk falls, these handcrafted lanterns will light up Wembley Park Boulevard in a magical parade. Dhol2Dhol will lead the procession, to the energetic rhythms of the dhol, a double-headed drum central to Punjabi folk music and Bhangra. Joining the parade will be Jack in the Box’s life-size elephant puppets, inspired by the Indian elephant’s significance in Hindu culture and its association with Lord Ganesha.
Meanwhile, in Market Square, visitors will be able to explore throughout the day stalls featuring street food, arts & crafts and offerings from local traders, adding to the festival atmosphere.
Sunday, 3rd November
The weekend reaches its crescendo with ‘Disco Diwali! BOXPARK Wembley x Kuch Kuch Nights at BOXPARK Wembley. From 5:00pm to 9:00pm, legendary DJ Ritu will host a special edition of her iconic club night, Kuch Kuch Nights, the UK’s longest-running Bollywood club night. From classic Bollywood to the latest hits, this high-energy set will keep the dance floor buzzing all afternoon. Free tickets for this event are available on BOXPARK Wembley’s website on a first come, first served basis.
Meanwhile, the Beatbox Room at BOXPARK Wembley will showcase all entries from the Wembley Park Rangoli Art Competition 2024. This competition, hosted by Wembley Park in partnership with Hindu Council Brent, will see its winners announced from the main stage during the evening.
“I’m so excited about being part of Wembley Park’s Diwali celebrations this year. We’ve brought together an eclectic mix of artists and different voices from across South Asia – you’ll see everything from classical Odissi dance to modern British South Asian fusion. That’s always been important in my work – using music and dance to connect people from all backgrounds. I’m especially looking forward to bringing my Kuch Kuch Nights club sound to BOXPARK Wembley. It’ll be a fantastic way to end the weekend, getting everyone together on the dancefloor!”
DJ Ritu MBE
“Our annual Diwali celebration brings the best of South Asian culture to the heart of Wembley Park. It’s a mix of tradition and innovation that reflects London’s diverse community. From the Sound Shell stage to BOXPARK Wembley, we’re lighting up the neighbourhood with stunning performances. This is what Wembley Park is all about – creating unforgettable experiences that bring people together.”
Claudio Giambrone, Head of Cultural Programming, Wembley Park
Entry is free for Friday and Saturday events. Free tickets are required for DJ Ritu’s Kutch Kutch Nights event at BOXPARK Wembley. Book your tickets here.
For more information on the Wembley Park Diwali Celebration, including the full event programme, click here.