The festival launches in Old Town’s iconic Victorian park - the Town Gardens.
Come along to admire the beauty of the gardens, take part in a variety of art and nature workshops, see music performances, shop at the local makers market and enjoy a variety of food & drink stalls.
12-5 pm (12-1 pm - Quiet Hour)
WHAT’S ON:
“The Enchanted Garden” - a community story co-created with local children, and inspired by Town Gardens
Local makers market with Mama’s Events
Town Gardens Treasure Trail (pick up a map at the entrance)
Live performances on the bandstand (Line up below!)
Art and nature workshops
Family picnic area at the Bowl
Food and Drink stalls by local businesses
Art & Nature Workshops
Brush & Bloom arts (teenagers/adults)
Free guided acrylic workshops inspired by Town Gardens by local artist Deepti Arora.
12:00 - 2:00 pm - Teenagers group. Please book here
2:30 - 4:30 - Adults group. Please book here
Deepti will also be running arts fringe events during the festival week. Her 8 June Young adults session still has a few spaces left!
Arts & Crafts for little ones
12pm-3pm
Free drop in creative activities for the youngest visitors with Hazel of Swindon ARTventurers. She will also be running an Upcycled Arts&Crafts session on Thursday 5 June at Old Town Library - drop in to meet her and make a craft with your little one between 11am-1pm!
Various workshops with Inspire Enrichment
12pm-12:45pm: Stretch & Reflect (for all) and Media Makeup (for all)
1pm-1:45pm: Dance (for all) and Face painting for adults; bring your child/ren along and learn how to do some simple face painting with them!
2pm-2:45pm: Storytelling & Drama (under 12s)
Pay what you can, with a suggested donation of £3 per session
Drop in, but also welcome to email to book
Photography Competition - bring along a camera or your phone and let the team show you how to change the settings to take some great photos! Capture the Family Fun Day and email your entry or post on social media with hashtag #InspireEnrichmentOTAF2025
Nature workshops with Swindon in Bloom
12pm-5pm
Drop in nature activities by Swindon in Bloom
Open Studios
Come by to meet local artists and find out more about Open Studios 2025!
FREE taster workshops timetable:
12.30pm - 1pm: Carolyn Brown - Using Pastels
1.30pm - 2pm: Carmen Norris - Mixed Media Collage
2.30pm - 3pm: Carmen Norris - Mixed Media Collage
3.30pm - 4pm: Kristyna Grussova - Mini Terraniums
Each one will be on a first come first served basis with a maximum of 8 people per session. Find their stall on way from the Bowls Club towards the Bandstand.
Arts Centre
Free drop in arts & crafts - come by and find out about what’s on at the Arts Centre! Also check out their fringe events.
Artsite
Drop in to meet local artists and find out more about Swindon Arts Fringe 2025 that’s happening 16th-29th June
If you have any queries regarding workshops please email events@thisisoldtown.com
If you have any queries regarding accessibility of the venue or need assistance on the day please email info@thisisoldtown.com or call Tasha at +44 7584 189091
Food & Drink
We are excited to bring a range of much loved local food & drink stalls to Town Gardens on 1 June:
Soleluna Pizza
Momo King
Stockers Street Food
Leyvan Spice
C&C Caterers
Sugar Shack
Glamorose Ice Cream
Glamorose Cakes
Rays Ice cream
Blue Goose Bar
Live Performances Line up
The Bandstand
12:30-13:30 Mary Barnes - Mary trained in musical theatre at Wilkes Academy, and since graduating in 2018, has worked as professional singer in hotels and on ships all across Europe. We are very excited to have her perform at her first ever Old Town Festival
13:10-13:40 Dance Roots Africa - DRA were selected as the headline project for WOMAD Festival's 40th Anniversary project, winning the place over 50 other UK arts organisations. Since then, they have performed and inspired so many people who would not normally have access to the art form. This is your last chance to experience an interactive workshop as their teachers are moving on to new exciting chapters
13:45-14:05 Jet Set Jackie- Jackie is one of the most experienced and recognised circus skills performers in the area. She has a background in dance and acrobatics and will be running workshops throughout the afternoon with a range of taster circus skills. She will also be doing a performance on the historic bandstand stage.
14:15-15:00 Emma Doupe - Originally from the US, Emma is a stunning vocalist, Auto Harpist and Pianist performing one of the most eclectic sets around, from En Vouge, to Skunk Anansie, to Linkin Park!
15:10-15:30 Rhythmix Goa Choir - Established in 2017, the choir have gone from strength to strength leading up to the greatest honour, being invited to perform at the Vatican. Sadly, this was not possible due to the death of Pope Francis, but they instead formed part of the crowd of mourners that lined the streets for the Pope's funeral.
15:40-16:00 Swindon Ukrainian Choir - The Swindon Ukrainian Choir is comprised of Ukrainians who are currently living in Swindon, and showcases cultural heritage of Ukraine through song. Their repertoire includes traditional folk melodies, contemporary pieces, and classical works, all highlighting the emotive power of Ukrainian music.
16:15-17:00 Ministry of Samba - An unusual and spirit rousing experience for a town in Wiltshire - a live Samba drumming band! Hopefully they will bring the sunshine to their electrictifying set which is full of rhythms from the streets of Rio. Samba is Funky and Infectious!
The Bowl
13:30-16:30 DJ Mariia - To compliment our picnic area in the Town Gardens Bowl, we have DJ Mariia blending disco, funk, house, and electro grooves with global influences. Her music selections bring together hidden gems, modern edits, and timeless classics, creating an atmosphere that’s both uplifting and deeply immersive. From cozy bars to open-air festivals, DJ Mariia’s sound brings people together on a journey through rhythm and melody
