Summer events - why Goose Green?

[HappyFamily]

Hi All

I thought this event was great fun on Sunday, but I noticed it was the busiest its ever been. Part maybe due to the good weather but I get the feeling this event has outgrown Goose green a fair bit.

Does anyone know why its held there, and why for instance it cant be held just up the road on Peckham Rye Park? It was pretty difficult with the queues for various things. For example the queues for food were snaking into those sitting on park listening to the band. Add buggies into the equation and it was hard even circling the perimiter to see everything.

On a similar subject- why arent there more events like this throughout the summer? Clearly its very popular and I wonder why for instance PRP isnt booked out more often with summer events....just wondering :-) Thanks

[KidKruger]

Sounds like you've answered your own question: "...this event has outgrown Goose green...".

It was held there because it was big enough.

[Pugwash]

Many years ago Southwark arranged similar activities in all their parks i.e. Dulwich, Peckham Rye and Belair and it was an opportunity for independent artists/producers and local charities/organisations to raise some money. These were stopped several years ago when Southwark had to trim their budget. There are a couple events that take place on the Rye and you have the Dulwich Park Fair.

[Sue]

HappyFamily Wrote:

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For example the queues

> for food were snaking into those sitting on park

> listening to the band.

I'm half of The Goose Is Out! who ran the music stage.

We became aware of the issue with one of the food queues very early on, during the first band's set, and did get the queue to move so that it wasn't blocking people's view who were sitting down.

Was this happening in more than one place, because we weren't aware of any other similar problems or we would have taken steps to try and sort them?

I think there were more food stalls this year, and they seemed to be located much closer to the stage than in previous years, plus there seemed to be more opposite the stage as well, which left less space for people to sit. Also the good weather had brought out the crowds I think.

I don't think this fair has outgrown Goose Green, but maybe more of it could be moved to the end of the Green away from the roundabout and the music stage. But I have no idea what the constraints are.

Angela Burgess does an absolutely fab job every year of organising and running the fair, and personally I'd be sorry if it moved elsewhere as I think Goose Green is a great site for it.

ETA: When there are events on Peckham Rye, the turnout has never seemed that great, and I wonder how many people who live in East Dulwich could be bothered to walk to the Rye and back? Goose Green is very central. Plus it's in Dulwich, and it's the Dulwich Festival Fair!! There were events on in Dulwich Park at the same time.

[goldilocks]

We went along and loved it, but it has got busier each year so think a little replanning is required. The bottom end of the green by the roundabout was really busy with all the food stalls and the music stage, but the top end of the green nearer the playground isn't really used. One idea could be to put all the food and drink stalls by the playground and the music at the other, which would mean people wouldn't be queuing all over those trying to watch the music stage (which was fantastic btw and an is a draw in its own right without the food stands).

[Otta]

I wasn't there, but before reading goldilocks' post I was wondering whether this was more to do with where things are set up. It certainly sounds as though the space could be used better, Goose Green is still a pretty large area.

Also I suspect there is an issue with the far end of the green because that's where dogs have a crap.

Sue Wrote:

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> ETA: When there are events on Peckham Rye, the

> turnout has never seemed that great, and I wonder

> how many people who live in East Dulwich could be

> bothered to walk to the Rye and back?

Are people really that lazy?

[DulwichFox]

If the stage was set up at the top end of GG. Grove vale end then that would sort out the problem.

Then people could get their food and walk up to watch the bands .

DulwichFox

[Michael Palaeologus]

The footprint of the fair has got bigger but there is plenty of room for growth. Perhaps there is some concern that this would make it noisier at the more residential end?

Having said that, it is one day a year and always good fun.

Giving the sound stage more room would seem to be sensible with The Goose is Out! doing a grand job of arranging excellent live acts and so boosting spectators.

The WI's cake making is ever more excellent too, and the fudge maker and the cookies. You get my drift.

[betty31]

I live next to where the bands were playing- windows wide open all day and loved it! Infact I love it every year!!Please don't take it somewhere else!!:):)

[KidKruger]

I think using more space for the event on goose green would only work when the weather's ok.

When it's grim people tend not to go in such numbers, which would perhaps be more apparent if the attractions were spread further apart - making it seem unattractive to passers by / those considering strolling over.

It's infortunate, but people are like that.

[Sue]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> I think using more space for the event on goose

> green would only work when the weather's ok.

> When it's grim people tend not to go in such

> numbers, which would perhaps be more apparent if

> the attractions were spread further apart - making

> it seem unattractive to passers by / those

> considering strolling over.

> It's infortunate, but people are like that.

Yes I agree.

And we like having the stage where it is. Having it up the other end would not feel the same at all :)

Glad people liked the music, we had a remarkably stress-free day this year xx

[Otta]

So move the food stalls a bit.

[Jane1979]

I may be biased as I live near Goose Green but I think the venue is great and the crowds give it atmosphere

[HappyFamily]

Hi Sue

Well we were in a group sitting listening to music but people were almost standing between us at one point, and then we had to keep moving to let walkers go by as it got busier and the flow of people swelled a bit into the crowd. We moved more central but there was only really a small space where you were uninterrupted (and that got used up quickly).

I do think there were lots more food stalls this year and agree they were alot closer than previous years. Its a shame though as in the end we gave up and moved off completely. Maybe as others suggested a simple remedy is to move the food to the other end next time.

I still think it would work on PRP by the way( everyone who was there has undoubtedbly used PRP too) and its 2 mins walk. I dont think it would detract from atmosphere as you just make the perimeter smaller. I remember a festival held on PRP some years ago and it was amazing.

Anyway- not so much a gripe as feedback! Its a great event and its a nice problem its got so busy ! :-)

[Sue]

Otta Wrote:

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> So move the food stalls a bit.

They were absolutely rammed in as it was. There would have been nowhere to move them to. Those who got there later were having trouble finding a place to pitch at all, which was why there were food stalls right up to both sides of the stage :(

It's very difficult isn't it, because as pointed out above, if things are too much spaced out it detracts from the atmosphere. Undoubtedly one reason for the crowds this year was the great weather.

If the weather is poor next year, and fewer people come, then there wouldn't be the issues. Having said that, I sat down to watch the music at several points during the afternoon and didn't experience any problems finding a space (admittedly there was just one of me), plus there always seemed to be space at the front.

[KidKruger]

There was plenty of space to sit down, I arrived between 3rd / 4th acts and 3 of us sat down easy.

Wouldn't consider standing at back in crowd - too much hassle with people weaving through.

Kids dancing up front was great to see.