The Old Town Festival 2025 came to a powerful close with over 4,000 people filling Wood Street for the ever-popular Old Town Festival Street Party.
The event marked the grand finale of a week-long programme of creative events, performances, and workshops that brought over 10,000 people together in celebration of local culture, community and the arts.
From noon to early evening yesterday - Sunday 8 June - Wood Street was transformed into a bustling pedestrian zone featuring live music, street food and artisan market stalls.
Performances from Chelsea Millard, Jade Young, the Swindon Ukrainian Choir, Jason Boorman, Tildy, and Juke Box James created a high-energy festival atmosphere, with food and drink supplied by some of Swindon’s best-loved local vendors.
The day showcased a dynamic blend of grassroots talent and community spirit, delivered in partnership with South Swindon Parish Council and supported by Deacons, Los Gatos, The Kings Arms, Sinewave, and the Old Town Post Office.
The Street Party capped a refreshed Old Town Festival which had begun a week earlier, and placed a renewed focus on arts and cultural programming under the banner of the Old Town Arts Festival. The week featured over 30 events across Old Town, including family workshops, theatre, film screenings, music, storytelling, visual arts and wellbeing activities.
A record-breaking Family Fun Day at Town Gardens launched the festival on Sunday 1 June, drawing 4,650 people for a vibrant day of activity and featuring creative workshops, live performances and a variety of community stalls, setting the tone for the week ahead.
Kris Talikowski, Chair of the Old Town Business Association, said: “This year’s festival was the most ambitious and wide-reaching we’ve ever attempted, and the response from the public has been phenomenal.
“To see over 10,000 people engage with arts, culture and community in such a joyful way across the week proves just how important events like this are for the heart and soul of Old Town.”
Fringe comedy and live music events added further dimension to the programme, with the Old Town Comedy Club at The Town Gardens bowl drawing drawing over 300 people, and the intimate Sofa Screenings at Create Studios offering a cinematic experience for local audiences.
Among the most celebrated projects was Grow a Story, led by award-winning author Kate Claxton. Working alongside over 100 local children, Kate helped co-create an illustrated story trail through Town Gardens, inspired by the park’s natural beauty and the children's imagination.
Youth creativity was also on display throughout the week, with performances by Swindon Music Service workshop participants and a well-received photography exhibition preview hosted at Oink Gallery. These moments gave younger voices a platform within the broader festival programme.
Hands-on arts activities remained at the heart of the week. Free family sessions were delivered by local creatives including Artsite, ARTventurers Swindon, Deepti Arora, and a number of artists from the Swindon Open Studios network, offering everything from painting and crafts to storytelling and interactive installations.
In total, over 10,000 attendees took part in the week’s events, with venues across Old Town including libraries, studios, churches and cafes hosting an eclectic and inclusive programme.
The festival was coordinated by Friends of Old Town - the public-facing identity of the Old Town Business Association - in collaboration with local schools, artists, charities and businesses, and was made possible through support from South Swindon Parish Council and local sponsors.
More information including photos and event roundups can be found at www.thisisoldtown.com/old-town-festival
(All pictures copyright and courtesy of OT House)
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