2013 seems to have seen a real flourishing of events and community activity in Harringay. A couple of anniversaries to start us off: firstly Harrringay Market celebarted its first birthday with a party in its new South Harringay School home. (Preparing this review, I came across a post I wrote in 2008 proposing a market for Harringay. It's interesting to read the responses and set those against where we are today).
New River 400
Our second local birthday was the 400th anniversary of the opening of the New River. With no Harringay Festival this year, it was the perfect year to have an alternative festival. Things got going one cold January morning in Finsbury Park and culminated in a great event on 22nd September (which sadly I couldn't attend).
Alongside the festival, we got a local cantata written and performed.
This wasn't the only Harringay song to emerge from 2103 however. As the result of the Harringay Warehouse scene folk opening their doors to the neighbourhood with a fantastic party in Catwalk Place, we learned about a tradiational style folk song written about greyhound racing at Harringay Stadium.
"They know my name at the track in Harringay, and they know I'm good for each pound that I lay, and whether or not things go my way, I'll be back at the races the very next day"
2013 saw two regular new local film based events launched. The first few Hidden Cinema events were held in the Organ Factory and in the Salisbury Sandi started the Film Exposed events, the last of which ran in October. We hope to see more of both next year.
The Salisbury was also home to a great charity jumble sale run by a group of young Ladder residents collecting money for a relative's medical treatment.
The Christmas Lantern Parade made a welcome return.
Last year it was teamed with the switch-on of the Harringay Christams Tree. With the regeneration works putting the kybosh on the tree this year, the parade ended at a well attened Harringay Night Market.
Passage Friends
Finally, looking forward to next year, Ladder local Adam Coffman was spurred into action by the spate of muggings in Harringay Passage and announced his intention to set up a Friends of the Harringay Passage group. There was an (almost) overwhelmingly postive response to the idea and Adam is looking forward to a well attended meeting in January.
culture and community
An increasingly active community
Harringay 2013 11
Opposite (Clockwise): Harringay Market Birthday Party, Charity Jumble at The Salisbury, Gold Chain at Catwalk Place Party (all by Hugh Flouch)