Thousands of people flooded a Goodmayes park on Sunday for the Area Five Community Festival.
Glorious sunshine was the perfect weather for enjoying a barbeque and a host of local bands in Barley Lane Recreation Ground, Barley Lane.
Visitors played games, joined in Zumba dancing and watched performances by the Salvation Army, Rascals Theatre Group, and schools.
Cyclists honed their skills with a free bike circuit and skills workshop.
Residents’ associations, societies, clubs and charities from area five, which covers Seven Kings, Goodmayes and Chadwell wards, also recruited members with stalls.
Last year’s festival was marred by concerns over organisation, which allegedly left little time for local groups to organise stalls.
It was Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure’s first year hosting the community fair.
Goodmayes Residents’ Association Keith Stanbury said Sunday’s event was “far better”.
He added: “It was the Wimbledon final and the German Grand Prix but we had a lot of people.
“I think it was a brilliant success.”
Cllr Wes Streeting called the festival “a really nice community day out” for residents and neighbours.
Local churches, including St John the Evangelist, in Seven Kings, and St Peter’s in Aldborough Hatch, gave information to residents and the Seven Kings and Newbury Park Residents’ Association also gained new members.
Cllr Ali Hai said it was a good opportunity to get younger residents involved in community events and groups.
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