Barking Riverside Block Party

DJ LINE-UP

Back for its second year, The Block Party returns as one of Emerge East's standout festival experiences. Blending performances from homegrown talent with exciting artists from across London, it brings an electric atmosphere to the heart of Barking Riverside.

Riverside Sauna & Wellness

The Riverside Sauna & Wellness experience returns, this year in its new home at Station Square. Spaces are limited, so be sure to book your ticket and enjoy the restorative benefits of deep heat, cold-water contrast and soothing steam.

Home Cooks: A Taste of Barking Riverside

A firm favourite of Emerge East returns, as our talented cohort of local home cooks once again serves up a delicious celebration of the flavours and cultures of Barking Riverside.

Art Installation

Experience a brand-new art installation by renowned UK artist Luke Jerram, presented by Creative Barking and Dagenham and premiering at Emerge East 2026, alongside a series of nature-inspired creative workshops.

Emerging Makers Market

Discover the best of East London's independent makers as Station Square is transformed into the Emerging Makers' Market, with stalls from talented local traders and independent businesses.

BDYD

Join Barking Dagenham Youth Dance aka BDYD for an action-packed street dance class designed to impress and set you up for the rest of the day dancing at The Block Party Stage!

Boxing Try Outs with England Boxing

Experience the excitement of boxing with Give It a Go Boxing activities. Led by qualified boxing coaches from England Boxing, participants of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to learn basic techniques, take part in fun boxing games, and try pad work with experienced coaches in a safe and supportive environment.

Communicate Project × Bandstand

A space for young creatives, innovators and curious minds to connect, share ideas and explore new ways of thinking. Come along. Listen. Ask questions. Share ideas. Connect.

Double Dutch Skipping with JUMP LDN

JUMP LDN bring the joy of Double Dutch skipping to the festival, celebrating traditional play streets and championing the power of play across London communities.

Earth Playground

Earth Playground is a workshop delivered by Unit Lab, exploring earth as a natural, accessible, and regenerative building material that can return to the ground at the end of its life.

The Emerge East Printing Studio with Lucy Grainge

New for 2026, artist Lucy Grainge brings a working screen-printing studio to Emerge East. This drop-in space invites participants to create their own bespoke, one-off screen print on paper, using local textures and shapes to celebrate Barking Riverside's community and natural environment.

Face Painting

Get into the festival spirit by getting your face painted at the L&Q stand. Choose from a half face or eye design with themes ranging from rainbows to tiger stripes! In partnership with L&Q.

Forest School Workshop

Children will discover the joy of working with natural materials and real woodworking tools, guided by Wander Wild Forest School educators, learning simple skills to stamp, shape and create their own unique woodland treasures.

Grow Your Own Mycelium Workshop

Discover the fascinating world of fungi with the London Mycology Project in this hands on workshop exploring how mycelium can be grown using local, repurposed materials.

Kinetika Bloco Drum & Dance Workshops

Get down with one of the pulse-pounding drumming workshop or unleash your inner groove in a dynamic dance class across the day.

Pollinator Parade featuring Kinetika Bloco, Konverse Dance Crews and Noah the Planet

Join Kinetika in a joyous procession through Barking Riverside in a celebration of community and movement.

Nature focused Loose Parts Play

Make-Do Play delivers free community play projects across London, creating opportunities for children to enjoy child-led outdoor play with loose parts in community gardens, adventure playgrounds and public spaces.

Nature workshops with London National Park City

Visit the London National Park City stall to meet Michael Shilling, Ranger Coordinator and Communications Manager. Pick up free pollinator seed packs and copies of the State of National Park City newspaper.

Kindly sponsored by Mackley

Pollinator Parade Workshop with Creative Barking & Dagenham

Help us bring buzz, colour and spectacle to Emerge East. Join us for a colourful, hands-on workshop where you'll help create pollinator-inspired artworks for our community to wear or carry in a Pollinator Parade at Emerge East. Discover the fascinating creatures behind the flowers, get creative, and let your imagination take flight as we make artworks that will fill Emerge East with colour, movement and joy!

Pollinators Meadow and Planting Workshop

An open-ended play landscape where children can discover the vital role that bees, butterflies and other pollinators play in supporting plant life, with planting activities and discovery tools to explore insects and plants up close.

Pullums Dance Academy

Pull up to the Block Party Stage for the premier of two brand new performances by the students of Pullums Dance Academy. Enjoy a showcase of Street Dance and Musical Theatre and celebrate the amazing talent of Pullums young dancers!

Roller Skating sessions with Youth Spot Bar

Youth Spot Bar C.I.C. brings Roller Skate Taster Sessions to the festival, giving visitors of all ages the chance to experience the fun of skating in a safe, supportive environment.

Screen Printed Emerge East Merch

Join artist Lucy Grainge & Bellway London for a hands-on screen-printing session and create your very own Emerge East tote bag. Learn the basics of screen printing as you print a bespoke artwork onto an Emerge East tote bag. You'll leave with a unique, hand-printed souvenir of the day, a piece you've made yourself and can take home and use. Kindly in partnership with Bellway.

Street Football with Triangoals Youth FC

Triangoals Youth FC bring the energy of street football to the festival, with skills challenges, fun games, penalty shootouts, and small-sided matches for all ages.

The Beehive

Inspired by the remarkable architecture of bees, the modular hexagonal structure invites children to experience the world from a pollinator's perspective, supporting imaginative play, teamwork, and an understanding of the vital role pollinators play in healthy ecosystems.

The Underground Recycler

Test your waste-sorting skills in a fun, interactive game that brings Envac's underground waste collection system to life. Play, learn and discover how sorting waste correctly helps keep the system running smoothly and prevents blockages. Kindly in partnership with Envac.

Tots N Tunes

Tots N Tunes' All Around The World session takes families on an interactive musical journey, celebrating songs, dances and nursery rhymes from different countries and cultures. Through singing, movement, storytelling and sensory play, children and their grown-ups explore the world together while developing confidence, communication and a love of learning.

Upcycled Keyrings with Clara Chu

Reimagine everyday objects as playful accessories in this hands-on making workshop inspired by Envac's innovative waste-sorting system. Clara Chu will guide you in creating an upcycled keyring using 1–3 pre-drilled household objects.

What Grows Again

Inspired by local bird habitats and forests, Bird Builders invites children to build oversized nests, build dens with natural materials, and explore nest-building play that encourages creativity, teamwork, and connection with nature.