Founded in 1980, and set in the beautiful leafy courtyards and surrounding streets of Hillview a Victorian housing estate in the heart of King's Cross, the Hillview Festival is a dynamic and colourful programme of music, dance, circus, and arts activities, along side a community market, and food stalls. Free and open to everyone, the festival celebrates creative talent and cultural diversity, drawing on a wide pool of artists and performers from the local area and beyond.
During the 1980s and 90s the Hillview Festival was instrumental in building a more friendly and cohesive community at a time when the Hillview Estate was deemed a hell-hole and a slum.
Hillview now sits on the edge of one of the largest and most desirable private development sites in Europe, surrounded by major corporations, high end shops and restaurants … gentrification that could lead to the loss of a quintessential spirit that makes our neighbourhood distinctive. We'd like to ensure that any changes have a positive impact, and a festival is a joyous way to develop community relations, and encourage positive social action.
Photo credits
This page: Festivals 1991 / 2019 - Catherine Packard, Angela Harrison
Home banner: Festivals 2017 - 2022 - Tiago, Joe Harrison, Anna Livia