Community Festival line-up revealed

Live music, theatre, sports sessions and family yoga are among a wide range of activities on offer at the University of Reading’s first ever Community Festival. 

Taking place at the award-winning Whiteknights campus, the Community Festival will bring together University staff and students, and residents from across the town, for a start of the summer celebration on Saturday 13 May, from 10am-3.30pm. 

Featuring multiple indoor and outdoor venues, there will be a packed programme of hands-on activities for children and grown-ups to get involved with throughout the day. This includes: 

• The main stage, located in the Meadow, will feature performances from local artists, ranging from classical Indian dance, afrobeats, and big band to K-pop and riverbilly style music. 
• Workshops held throughout the day include: family yoga, painting, theatre, rap, and African drumming. 
• A selection of sports taster sessions and demonstrations will also be taking place, from tennis to rugby, jiu jitsu and more. Head over to the Sports Field to try something new. 
• The dedicated Quiet Zone will offer a variety of sensory activities for children, as well as some multilingual story time sessions. 
• Research talks and activities, hands-on science experiments, and the opportunity to engage with Reading’s top academics. 
• Alongside the activities and talks, visitors will also be able to explore the beautiful lakes and gardens that the campus has to offer, and sample some street food from a range of different vendors. 

A free shuttle bus service will be provided from four areas around Reading, including: Caversham, Reading Station, Tilehurst and Whitley. 

Professor Robert van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “Our first ever Community Festival is aimed at bringing together everyone in the area, including students, staff, alumni and their families, and local residents for a free one-day celebration of what makes Reading great: our diverse and welcoming community.  

“As well as a full day of entertainment, visitors can explore our gardens, buildings and green spaces that make the University one of the UK’s leading centres for study and discovery. We are looking forward to welcoming lots of people across Reading to join us in this start of summer celebration for the whole community.”   

The Festival is being hosted by the University and Reading Students’ Union, in collaboration with partners from across the town. Find more information about the Community Festival and view the full programme of activities.