Following government guidance, Ealing Council has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Ealing Summer Festivals, as well as any group events and other activities (such as group fitness training) that are scheduled to be held on local authority land within the borough between now (30^th March 2020) and the 31^st July 2020.

This follows advice from 23 March 2020 that mass gatherings should not take place, in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.

This is a developing situation and updates will be on the council website.

Events within the Ealing Summer Festivals programme that this applies to are:

• Greenford Carnival
• CAMRA Beer Festival
• Acton Carnival
• Comedy Festival
• Blues and Jazz Festivals

Councilor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for finance and leisure said:

“Our summer festivals are a key part of the calendar year and celebrates our rich and vibrant culture that Ealing has on offer. It is with a heavy heart that we have made the decision to cancel the festivals, but it is definitely the right thing to do.

If we are going to tackle this awful disease, we need to follow the guidance and stay at home. It really will save lives. Doing this not only protects you and your loved ones, but also means that our key front-line services will be able to look after those most vulnerable.”

We know how important these events are to our community, particularly following an extended period of isolation during such an unprecedented time.

Ealing Council’s Festival & Events team are currently working on the viability of producing an alternative programme of events in late summer or early autumn. We will of course be working in line with government guidelines, but never has it been more important a time to bring our community together so if we can, we will!

Over the next few weeks we will be asking local residents and community groups to share their favourite bits of Ealing Summer Festivals – bands you have seen, pictures you have taken and, most importantly, what you would love to see happening in the borough this year, and in the future.

For more information about the cancellation or the format of any future events please contact events@ealing.gov.uk.