Tooting Foodival 2021: What to expect from the sustainable food festival that's not just about food

Tooting Foodival will be back in early September - and here is what you should expect from the food festival, which isn't just about food.

The festival, which has been going on since 2008, is taking place on September 4 at Hereward Road.

The non-profit festival is completely free to go and will be running from 11am to 5pm.

What to expect?

As you can see from the name, food is the main purpose of the festival. In short, Tooting Foodival is a community based festival celebrating all things local, with its main focus being on how to live sustainably during a time of climate change.

It is organised by Transition Town Tooting - a local community group that aims to make change in how we live in order to deal with climate change.

The festival celebrates local produce, growers and cooks, so bring your wallet if you can to buy some delicious food at a reasonable price.

Like any good festival, there will be music played throughout, exclusively from local artists. In addition, a selection of dance will also be showcased.

While the festival's history has always been about food, this year will be looking at some of the fantastic initiatives that have emerged during lockdown that embrace sustainable living developed by local people. This will include recycling, upcycling, repairing, mending, re-creating and a focus on slow-fashion. The festival will also be a 'plastic free zone' to highlight the adverse effect plastic has on the planet and marine life.

Some of the activities

Lots will be going on throughout the day which will be fun for a wide demographic of people. Below are just some of the activities and workshops you can expect.

Restyle your wardrobe

Ever wished you had your very own personal stylist to create a look that's just right for you? Sara from @Simastylistlondon, a sustainable personal stylist with a degree from the London School of Styling, will be on hand to help you accentuate your best assets and make the most of your existing wardrobe, all with the aim of making you look and feel totally fabulous!

To encourage you to reduce, reuse and recycle more, we are collaborating with Wandsworth Oasis to show you what wonderful goodies can be found lurking in their many local charity shops. They will be showcasing a selection of clothing including brand new garments that you could buy for a fraction of their original retail price!

Clothes upcycling event

if you've made a new item of clothing out of an old garment then why not wear it to this year's Foodival. We would love to see your creations. Better still, if you feel like flaunting your creations on stage, we will have a catwalk show so you could really showcase your wares.

Photographic workshop

Ranji Thangiah, otherwise known as Tooting Mama , is a food photographer, cooking class host and founder of the Sri Lankan food blog. She will be leading a workshop on food photography.

In this workshop, she will cover:

- How to use your smart Phone to get the best shots

- The rule of thirds, and basic composition

- The power of story

- Practical session - go out and capture images of the festival

You can also enter the Tooting Foodival photographic competition – the winning photo will be featured in future Foodival promotions.

Restart

Don't bin it, repair it - get your electrical items repaired. Our amazing volunteers have fixed everyday items like irons, hairdryers, kettles and toasters. During those years we have saved tonnes of electrical and electronic objects from landfill - register online to book your slot with a fixer.

Tie-dye workshop

Want to have a go at making your own tie-dye item using vegetable scraps? Bring an old T-shirt or any cotton cloth and we will teach you how. It's fun, creative and you'll be amazed at the results!

Locally grown veg display

On show will be an amazing diversity of produce that is grown by local gardeners and allotment holders throughout the borough of Wandsworth.

Cooking your own

During lockdown many of us have had to cook more at home and it has certainly bought out the chef in some of you. At the festival, some of these home cooks will create a mouth-watering array of small plates made from locally grown ingredients for you to try for just £1.

Stalls - small local producers and makers

There will be a number of local producers and makers exhibiting and selling their produce at the event alongside local charities and community groups.

How to get involved

If you would like to volunteer or find out more about the festival, please get in touch with Malsara Thorne at [email protected].

Furthermore, if you're at festival, get sharing on social media using the hashtag #tootingfoodival.

You can also follow the festival on Instagram (@tootingfoodival).

How to get there

Hereward Road is right in the heart of Tooting SW17, some events will also take place in the Mushkil Aasaan community centre at 222 Upper Tooting Rd, London SW17 7EW

Nearest tube is Tooting Broadway or Tooting Bec and it's a 5 minutes' walk from there. Bus 155, 219, 255, 355.

Have a story in Tooting you'd like to share? Get in touch! Email [email protected], call 07557513104 or tweet @TommyJJourno [I]

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