Strand on the Green street party, Tidefest 2026

Celebrating life beside the tidal river Thames

Tidefest is a free, family-friendly community festival celebrating the tidal River Thames at Strand-on-the-Green. First held in 2014 on World Rivers Day, it has grown into a firm fixture in the London calendar. This year it took place on Sunday 6 September and the sun shone.

There is paddleboarding with Active 360, kayaking with Chelsea Kayak Club, an angling competition run by the Angling Trust, river dipping with Thames21, guided foreshore walks with community archaeologist Fiona Haughey … and this year the Swim London race just happened to be passing on its way from Brentford to Putney.

And the Strand on the Green Association (SoGA) put on a party.

Tin cans and ‘Splat a Rat’ – simple pleasures

There was a bit of a snafu at the start as the road closure diversions sent traffic down a side street which also thought it had permission to be closed for a play day. (Enquiries are under way.) It caused a little extra stress but was sorted out with a little liason and cooperation.

Around 2,000 residents, friends, neighbours and Strand lovers came along and enjoyed free to play street games organised by Strand on the Green Association. Children and grown-ups played ’splat-a-rat’, threw bean bags at giant tin cans and aimed pingpong bars at buckets.

The local History society showcased old photos of the area and chatted to everyone about times gone by along the river. The residents association gathered items and held a Tombola and raised around £1,000 for local charity – www.riana.org

Organiser Lucy Cufflin says:

“Thanks to local residents and businesses for donating prizes with stand out meal vouchers from The Bell and Crown and The City Barge, a signed football shirt from Brentford FC and drinks vouchers from Bulls Head.

“Fantastic street BBQ by Bell and Crown and live music outside the Steam Packet

“Around 30 volunteers manned barriers, helped on the games stalls and picked up rubbish  – a good day was had by all”.

Planning already for next year

There wsa lots going on in Chiswick this weekend, with Abundance London’s Apple Day on the Saturday and the Chiswick Flower Market’s sixth birthday celebrations on the Sunday.

READ ALSO: Chiswick Apple Day 2026

READ ALSO:  Chiswick Flower Market celebrates its sixth birthday

This was the first year the street party was held on the same day as Tidefest.

“The combination of fun and games and river activities was magical”, says Lucy.

“We are planning next year with greater collaboration, extra activities and aiming to create the ultimate West London day down by the river”.