It’s a golden day for a fête!
Fifty years since the traditional summer fun day was first staged
Friday, 18th July
Last year’s waiters’ race [Charlie Milligan]
THE Soho Village Fête returns this weekend with a special celebration in for its Golden Jubilee year.
It is 50 years since the quirky but traditional summer fun day was first staged in St Anne’s Gardens, Wardour Street.
Starting at midday on Sunday, there will be six hours of live music and entertainment with raffle boasting prizes including a digital piano, a year’s membership at Ronnie Scott’s and an overnight stay at Hazlitt’s Hotel.
From the dog show to the drag queens, the public can expect all the usual madness in St Anne’s Gardens – including the drama of the Tug of War between Soho firefighters and police.
It’s time to dig out your flares and hot pants, and head back to 1975, with a prize for the best-dressed.
The main draw is the Soho Waiters Race, starting at 3pm, where Soho’s finest hospitality staff will pound the streets in pursuit of the coveted trophy and £100 cash prize.
The Soho Police Force team in last year’s Tug of War [Charlie Milligan]
The rules are strictly observed: Waiters must race, balancing a tray with a bottle of champagne, a glass and ashtray for ballast, without holding on or dropping it. There are 100 volunteer marshals keeping an eye out for rule breakers.
Soho House is providing prosecco for the trays and Dennys supplying the embroidered napkins.
Three times champion Endri, from Dean Street Townhouse, has moved out of town, leaving the field wide open this year.
The race starts outside the French House Pub, before the competitors run up Dean Street, round Soho Square and down past Bar Italia, to Romilly Street, returning to the French House.
Other highlights include the human fruit machine, snail racing, a spaghetti-eating contest, “More Tea Vicar!” with the vicars of St Anne’s Church, a “Splat the Rat!” game and a bar run by historic French House Pub.
The Human Fruit Machine [Charlie Milligan]
All in all there are 25 stalls from Soho businesses and community groups including Soho Parish School, and six hours of live stage entertainment, including the Belles of London City Morris Dancers, Prince Charles Cinema Rocky Horror Sing-along, and two local performers: 80s-style band The Nightshift and Clifford Slapper headlining with a Bowie experience.
The event is organised by the Soho Society, which was founded in 1972.
This year’s poster is created by cartoonist David Shenton and the Waiters Race Poster by Steve Russell Studios.
Sponsors include The Crown Estate, Shaftesbury Capital PLC, GPE, Diageo, Fatta a Mano, Soho House, Westminster City Council, Storm Flowers London, The Rotary Club UK, Pastaio Carnaby and Yamaha Music London.
SOHO FETE Sunday 1-6pm
MAIN STAGE HOSTS: Peter Cliffe and Karla Bear
12pm The Belles of London City Morris Dancers
12.15pm Soho Parish School Rock Band
12.25pm Election of the ‘Soho Mini Mayor’
12.35pm Ray & Johnny
1.00pm Kevin Davy White – Yamaha London Music Ambassador
1.30pm The Soho Dog Show
1.55pm Cian Downing & Band – Yamaha London Music Ambassador
2:40pm The Prince Charles Cinema Sing-a-Long-a, with host Candy Floss
3:05pm The Nightshift – 80s Cover Band
3:45pm Waiters Race Presentation
4:05pm The Fabulous Lounge Swingers
4:45pm The Raffle Draw (with Revd Simon Buckley)
5:05pm Clifford Slapper & Friends
5:55pm ‘Soho, Soho’ Finale – Clifford Slapper, Karla Bear, Minnie Diamond, Ray & Johnny and more.
MAIN EVENTS:
2:20pm Soho Police vs Fire Brigade Tug of War (St Anne’s Gardens)
3:00pm The Soho Waiters Race (Start/Finish line: The French House, Dean Street)
VESTRY GARDEN STAGE (Family stage):
12.30pm Jaigo Puddlehop’s Magic Show
1:30pm Freddo’s Quest a musical adventure with Academy of St Martin in the Fields
4:00pm Freddo’s Quest a musical adventure with Academy of St Martin in the Fields
SIDE SHOWS:
1:00pm Spaghetti Eating competition (Big Table)
1:00-3pm Dali Ballooni: Balloon artist (St Anne’s Gardens)
ALL AFTERNOON:
Snail Racing | The Human Fruit Machine | Tombola | Splat the Rat | The Raffle |
Speedy Photo Booth in aid of Soho Parish School
Live Music, French House & Italian Aperol Bar, Stalls and Activities All Afternoon
