Who wants to be cooped up indoors on a beautiful day in May? Well, there’s no need to stay in the shade as festivals galore are springing up across London, reports Anna Frame.
You may feel you’re in Korea, not King’s Cross, on your trip to the city’s first JUNG Festival (1-4 May), which brings the delights of the East Asian nation’s food to this lively neighbourhood.
So, if you don’t know your bulgogi from your bibimbap, go hungry and savour the sweet, sour and fermented flavours of this moreish cuisine. Expect heaps of addictive fried chicken and health-boosting kimchi, as well as fiery hotpots and sugary sponge candy. And if this gets you in the mood for an earful of K-Pop, head to Indigo at The O2 for a tribute to Korea’s musical phenomenon on 15 May.
Now for a true taste of traditional Britain – a Punch and Judy show. In days gone by (and occasionally now, if you’re lucky), seaside holidaymakers were entertained by a slapstick puppet show in which Mr Punch and his wife Judy had a blazing row, much to the enjoyment of the audience and an antagonistic crocodile.You won’t find a beach in London (apart from Ernie’s Beach, a stretch of sand near Gabriel’s Wharf), but you will find the quarrelsome couple at the Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival on 10 May. Head to St Paul’s Church where Punch and Judy puppeteers from around the world meet in the garden every year, close to the spot where writer Samuel Pepys documented England’s first recorded sight of Punch – you can see the plaque marking this landmark occasion on the 17th-century church’s wall. The free festivities begin with a procession led by a brass band followed by a church service where Punch himself preaches a sermon from the pulpit. With maypole dancing, folk music, Pearly Kings and Queens and clowns, it’s a quirky day out.
At the end of the month in Trafalgar Square, Eid on the Square (30 May) marks the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, often referred to as the ‘Feast of the Sacrifice’. Alongside the main stage hosting live performances, you’ll find plenty of enticing food stalls and family-friendly activities to keep the kids happy. Everyone is welcome.
