Willesden Green Wassail

Founded in 2010 by storyteller Rachel Rose Reid, this is a walking, talking, rhyming, singing, family-friendly, all-faiths-and-none, community-created celebration of the independent spirit of Willesden Green.

Gather at 2.15pm for a 2.30pm start outside Willesden Green Tube Station, walk down to the library with them with drumming, song and spoken word.

At 4pm they will gather for hot drinks, poetry and stories inside a local venue.

As they parade they will be entertained by acclaimed artists sharing rap, folk, poetry, drumming and stories. Local choirs sing and celebrate the independent shopkeepers, local campaigners & community project-makers.

What is a Wassail?

The wassail is the origin of carol singing (going door to door singing songs)
An old English 'Wassail' involves blessing apple trees, in the hopes of a good juicy crop in the year to come.

Here in Willesden, they are low on orchards, so instead, they gather on the High Street to wish each other and the local shopkeepers a year of joy and resilience.