Reigate Summer Festival is back in town between 20th-22nd June, and it's better than ever! The Reigate Summer Festival is all about celebrating the arts and providing the community with family-friendly entertainment. There are many different events that you can participate in or simply sit back and enjoy yourself.
The vast majority of the events are free to enter and include live music, drama, dance, film, literature, comedy, art, cultural history, fashion and workshops. The Festival aims to bring the community together to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and to showcase the talent of local artists and people involved with arts-related groups and businesses.
We’ve put together a quick guide to this brilliant event taking place in the heart of our community.
Live Music
Let's kick off by diving in with the Live Music events. They are spread all over the town so you can discover new acts and jam to the rhythm. There are four main stages, three of them being hosted by New Music Nights – one on Tunnel Road, one near the Clocktower and one in Cage Yard. The fourth, ‘the Community Stage’ is inside Reigate Methodist Church on the High Street. To find out timings of each music event check out the schedule on the Reigate Summer Festival website. Whether you’re singing, joining in, or just watching, there’s something for everyone. This year the festival is also introducing ‘Busk Stops’ around the town, which are a great opportunity for local artists to showcase their talent.
Drama
Love drama? Catch some engaging performances on the Community Stage or participate in a creative workshop with Nicki Day to discover character and narrative. Nicki Day is an experienced drama practitioner and will help you bring your words to life in imaginative ways, explore character, tone, and story with creativity and depth. Saturday 21st June at 13:00-14:30. Cost £7.50 p/p plus booking fee. Book here.
Dance
Dance offers a fun and dynamic way to connect with yourself and others. There will be a variety of different dance workshops taking place including ballet, salsa, Street and commercial dance, and Mindful Movement and breathing. Each one of these will be led by an experienced artist or performer who is offering a unique, hands-on experience shaped by their passion and expertise. Just keep in mind that certain events are only suitable for 16 years+. To find the perfect dance event for you, have a look at the timetable. In addition to the Workshops, the Reigate School of Ballet will be performing on the Community Stage.
Comedy
On Friday 20th June, Reigate Summer Festival welcomes the award-winning Comedy Cottage to bring you a very special programme that bridges the gap between comedy and music. The event is being held at Reigate Priory Football Club from 19:30 and will be hosted by international award-winning comedian Sajeela Kershi. Head-lining the event is award-winning comedian Abandoman – AKA Rob Broderick, and it also features sketch comedy company Just These Please, plus two more support acts. Our comedy night is for guests aged 18 years+ with tickets bookable via TicketSource at £15 (plus booking fee).
Film
Everyman Reigate is screening a selection of short films made by local filmmakers that include a wide variety of genres including sci-fi, documentaries, drama and historical footage of the local area. These will run from 10:00-11:00am and 11:00am-12pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
The order of the short films will be released closer to the date of the event, so keep an eye on the Reigate Summer Festival website. Entry is free, but seating is first come, first served, so be sure to arrive early to grab the best seats! The cinema café will be open so you can treat yourself to drinks, snacks, popcorn or pizza whilst you enjoy the show.
Art
This year Reigate Summer Festival is packed with visual arts. Whether you’re into painting, photography, sculpture, or anything entirely experimental there’s something for everyone. Offered as part of Surrey Artist Open Studios, local artists will showcase their work across parts of Reigate, including Reigate Library and Reigate Community Centre.
There will also be live art demonstrations, hands-on exhibits, and drop-in workshops where you can create your own work of art and get involved. Some activities are designed for kids, others for adults, so everyone can join in and feel included. Discover the full schedule of art activities here.
Literature
Spoken word events are being offered at both Basil’s and Parkside, plus two, have-a-go story-writing workshops at Somers Hall. The workshops give you a hands-on learning experience and the chance to interact with literature specialists. If you’d like to learn about ‘how to plan a crime story’, join Niki Mackay for an engaging session where she explores the key elements of a beginning, middle and end. But if this isn’t your cup of tea, there is also another session with Rob Walton-Kinghorn which will offer guidance into creating your own short story and get your creative mind flowing! Find more details on timings here.
History
If you’re interested in History, visit Reigate Library to enjoy the Historical Photographic Display, which was thoughtfully curated and organised by Glyn Mundy, in collaboration with the Redhill Philatelic Society. Or you can check out the Holmesdale Natural History Club Display, where you will be able to learn more about the natural history, archaeology and geology of the local area.
Fashion
This year, we’re introducing fashion to the Festival. Conscious Couture: A Sustainable Fashion Experience will take place in The Ivory Lounge on Saturday 21st June. The focus is on showcasing the creativity and the style of our local retailers, while promoting slow fashion, upcycling and reworked vintage pieces. The goal is to show how old garments can be reimagined and reused without sacrificing style. You can get involved with interactive elements in the buildup to the final runway presentation. More details on this event will be announced in the run up to the date. Stay tuned to socials and the website.
Where to find the events:
To find the most up to date schedule of when and where these events are taking place, visit the website and search the Schedule by category.
The Reigate Summer Festival is a celebration of the arts with something for everyone, whether you’re into music, comedy, fashion or wanting to unleash your creative self, you’re sure to be entertained!
Would you like to support Reigate Summer Festival?
The festival is run for the community by the community, and we need your help to keep it growing. If you love the vibe and want to see more, please chip in to our crowdfunding campaign - every little bit helps bring this festival to life.