For the Chiswick Book Festival, which has its own website, click here
The Bedford Park Festival (& Green Days Fete)
The Bedford Park Festival - including its opening Green Days weekend (above) - takes place every June and is one of the highlights of the local year. The fortnight of arts and social events is the centrepiece of St Michael & All Angels' work in the community and raises money for charities and the upkeep and outreach of the church.
It was launched in 1967, with John Betjeman as its patron, and helped save the world's first garden suburb from destruction by property developers:
45 Years of the Bedford Park Festival
Bringing the community together
The Bedford Park Festival is Chiswick's biggest community event, attracting thousands of people from the area and further afield, and raising money for charities and projects at St Michael's. To get a flavour, watch Green Days: The Film by award-winning photographer and commercials director Kelvin Murray.
The Festival has had a profound effect on the community, saving the world's first garden suburb from being wrecked by property developers.
The first Festival in 1967 - under its patron John Betjeman - led to 356 houses being declared listed buildings.
Raising money for good causes
Over the past 45 years, the Festival has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local and overseas charities and the work of St Michael and All Angels, with the support of the community and many local businesses. You can read about this year's charities and the opportunities for commercial firms to support them.
Supporting the arts and creativity in the community
Upholding Bedford Park's arts and crafts origins, the Festival offers a mix of concerts, talks, exhibitions, competitions and performances
(The Mikado, 2011, right) Dozens of local people take part in events such as the Bedford Park Summer Exhibition, the Poetry evening, the Photographic Exhibition and, on the final Sunday, the Festival Mass, Bedford Park Walk and Open Gardens. The full programme is published in May.
The Festival opens with the two-day Green Days fete and Craft Fair, held opposite the church and Turnham Green tube station. This has live music and dance (including zumba, below); children's fancy dress competition, 5-a-side football and talent contest; a marmalade-making competition; plus home-grown plants, home-made cakes and other refreshments; and a sprinkling of local celebrities, such as Jeremy Vine and Clare Balding (see video below).
If you would like to be involved in the 2012 Festival in any way, please contact Helen Simkin, the Festival administrator, at helen@may.be. And you can remind yourself of the highlights of the previous Festivals below.
Bedford Park Festival 2011
Bedford Park Festival 2010
Bedford Park Festival 2009
Bedford Park Festival 2008
Bedford Park Festival 2007
Earlier Festivals
Celebrity presenters
The Festival team also organises the Chiswick Book Festival in mid-September. If you would like to be involved in the 2012 Book Festival (September 14-16), please contact the administrator, Dinah Garrett,
on 020 8994 7252 or at ddinahg@supanet.com