Best bank holiday events

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Get ready to party: The Globe will host a lively Shakespeare party

Family day out: Clapham Common is to be transformed for A Country Affair

Look here too

• Get Loaded in the Park
• Village Fete for Ciity

Make the most of your bank holiday weekend with a selection of days and nights out to choose from...

Country Affair on Clapham Common
May 24 – 26
10am – 6pm
£3 – £7 (free for under 3s)
www.claphamcommonshow.com
Clapham Common is to be transformed into a traditional countryside show. The capital's biggest choreographed display of Maypole dancing presents a vividly colourful centerpiece. Join in with a variety of rural entertainment and activities; including stick making and traditional craft workshops.

You could take a ride on the mini steam train or visit the farm and learn how the animals are cared for. There are traditional and modern fairground rides and state-of-the-art simulators too. If music is more your thing, check out some of the best new talent around and hear a few familiar tunes at the live music stage, daily from 1.15pm till close.

Paradise Gardens, Victoria Park
May 23– May 26
Free
www.paradisegardens.org.uk
Paradise Gardens will feature circus and street theatre, after-dark performance, live music, children's activities, a market with food and crafts and licensed bars. Inspired by the Victorian idea of parks as pleasure gardens, this year's event also includes two premieres of home-grown and internationally acclaimed circus shows.

The London premiere of Not Fit State Circus show Tabu (23 May to 31 May) takes place in a big-top marquee. The UK premiere of Laika/Time Circus collaboration Sensazione (23 to 26 May) is a fairground that comes alive through story-telling and audience enthusiasm.

Africa Day at Trafalgar Square
May 25
12pm – 7pm
Free
The first annual Africa Day celebrations will be held in Trafalgar Square this bank holiday. The event celebrates the contribution of London's African communities to the capital and will include African arts, theatre, live music, food, stalls and crafts, representing all the continents in the African Diaspora.

Miriam Makeba, the critically acclaimed singer and leading opponent of apartheid in South Africa will perform in the UK for the first time in five years. Known fondly by fans as 'Mama Africa' – Makeba, will be joined by Misty N Roots, Dele Sosimi, African Jazz Allstars, Seeds of Creation and the Congo All Stars. The Mayor of London will give a welcoming speech.

Tate Modern: The Long Weekend
May 24 – 26
Various times
Free
www.tate.org.uk
Tate Modern's Turbine Hall will have a makeover as part of this year's UBS Openings: The Long Weekend when it houses the first ever Flux-Olympiad. Fluxus artist Larry Miller will programme a series of flux-sports events over the three-day arts festival. Both athletes and visitors will be able to take part in a wide range of sports including soccer games played on stilts, obstacle shoe races, slow speed bicycle races and the balloon shotput.

Each evening, the Turbine Hall will be the dramatic setting for three unique performances of music, film and art. For when you feel hungry, Alison Knowles' iconic work Make a Salad will also take place in the Turbine Hall. The audience will be invited to participate by eating the giant salad that has been created.

Urban Art at Selfridges
May 23 – June 1
9.30am-8pm (Sat,9pm/Sun,12pm-6pm)
Free
www.selfridges.com
Urban Art at Selfridges will open this weekend; providing a unique snap-shot of contemporary underground art. Rarely seen works by Banksy along with others from leading artists of the Street Art scene will be presented together for the first time. Dreweatts – the UK's largest regional auctioneer of fine art and antiques – has compiled the selection. Selfridges will preview 147 works, many of them for the first time, with several for sale.

Foostbarn Shakespeare Party/The Globe
May 23 – May 25
Fri, 7.30pm/ Sat, 2pm & 7.20pm/ Sun, 1pm & 6.30pm
£5-£33
www.footsbarn.com
Through a riot of visual theatre, masks, dance, puppets, magic, circus and the juicy bits from the Complete Works, 16 performers from 11 countries will host a Shakespeare Party. We've heard that Juliet will walk the tightrope and Titania will drop from the Heavens. Now that's entertainment.

The Gallery/ Ministry of Sound
May 23
10.30pm-6am
£15-£20
www.thegallery-club.co.uk
Celebrate the start of Bank Holiday weekend with a big night out. Paul Oakenfold will headline The Gallery. Judging by his reception at the Xmas Party and last October's Perfecto Special, this is likely to be a popular option among clubbers. If this isn't your scene though check out www.thisislondon.co.uk/clubbing or the Weekend Gig Guide for more ideas.

 

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