On the outskirts of west London (but still a part of Greater London and within the M25) is a village called Ickenham. Ickenham is the last significant urban sprawl before the countryside, and the Chilterns are just beyond. Ickenham has a small stretch of shops in a couple of parades near two major roads. The village has nice parks and riverside walks, a Jacobean mansion (closed to the public), and a village pong with water pump as its main features. The village has a community spirit with an arts and crafts group busy creating decorations from yarn on the top of postboxes and another group who dress up in dinosaur suits and parade around the town.
Ickenham Festival started in 1976, and this is its 44nd year as the last couple were cancelled. The festival takes place over ten days with a variety of different events taking place across those days, and the theme this year was a focus on the Platinum Jubilee. The largest day of the festival was this past Saturday as this was Village Day and included a large line up of fair, activities, a concert, and fireworks.
I started my journey at Ruislip Gardens where there are also yarn-bombed postboxes. The one above was for the Platinum Jubilee.
After arriving at Ickenham, I discovered several postboxes with a village festival theme.
I had to take a photograph of the iconic pump.
The day started shortly after 12:30 with the parade from Swakeley's park to Milton Court Open Space via the main roads. The traffic was not completely shut off due to the town being a popular through-road from various areas, such as Uxbridge, the M40, and Ruislip. This parade started with a small train and ended with a small flat-bed vehicle where a guy was playing a drumset.
Some people made the extra effort to come in the fancy dress as requested by the organisers. The fancy dress was Jubilee-themed.
Ickenham Dinosaurs made an appearance.
There were only a few classic cars, jeep, and motorbikes.
The dinosaurs re-grouped at the entrance to Milton park, where many tents were set up with games, items for sale, and much more.
There were a couple of people on stilts.
There were beautiful flowers.
I watched the children with the maypole.
Unfortunately, the weather was not great even though it had been beautiful all week long. Temperatures were cooler, and it rained a little bit. The main concert was held for the evening, and fireworks were to follow.
The Village Hall had a cake sale and a beautiful Ickenham Fesitval cake with ducks.
After a quick wander around, I enjoyed an all-day breakfast at one of the cafes on the main street.
On the way home, I walked past St. Giles' church, which dates to 1335. I could only peek in the door as a concert was taking place.
For more information about Ickenham, see my post of the river walk from Ickenham to Ruislip here.
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