Langley Pavilion came alive at Slough’s first-ever New Year, New Hobby Festival delivered an unforgettable explosion of creativity, performance and community connection.
Organised by Viva Slough, the festival welcomed 400+ visitors who explored 60 hobby stands, watched live performances, joined workshops, and took part in friendly competitions at the newly refreshed Langley Pavilion.
From needle felting to henna workshops, crochet to cosplay, rangoli to railway modelling, drama clubs to book clubs, the range of hobbies on display has something for everyone.
The atmosphere was electric throughout the event with DJing by Sound Latino UK and a packed stage schedule featuring young musicians, dance groups, choirs, spoken-word artists, and live workshops.
Performers included James Gibbons, Nathanael Koomson, Nihar Roshan, Rajesh Roshan, Natyology Dance Company, Sujit Prakash (violin), Datchet Morris Dancers, Fusion Choir, UTKALIKA performers, Sanchari House Dance, Dancing Stars, Sam Jamz and many more. Interactive sessions such as Zumba with Divya and live music demonstrations kept the audience engaged and on their feet.
Adding to the excitement was the announcement of the winners for Slough Explorer Contests: Photo Contest Winner: Makayla Ferreira; Baking Contest Winner: Ume Zahra; Singing Contest Winner: Insha Raza (Under 18); Scavenger Hunt Winner: Pravallika.
Prizes were awarded on stage to the winning entries, a highlight that drew cheers from the crowd.
“The buzz in the room was unbelievable; it was one of the most exhilarating community experiences we have ever seen,” said Amandeep Mangat, Deputy Leader of Viva Slough. “People weren’t just watching, they were joining in, meeting new groups, signing up to clubs, and discovering talents they didn’t know existed.”
Cultural convenor and event coordinator Jho (Johana Plazas) added, “This festival proved that creativity is everywhere in Slough. When you give people space to share what they love, the energy is contagious.”
The excitement was shared by the hobby groups themselves.
Dr Shurra Hussain, commented, “Today, at Slough’s first Hobby Festival, I shared my paper quilling work, turning recycled/paper into jewellery, while my son displayed his diamond art. The public response was very encouraging. A big thank you to Viva Slough for organising this wonderful Hobby Festival and giving artists a platform to share their work. We need more such platforms in society to encourage creativity, support learning, and bring communities together”
From the Slough and Windsor Railway Society stand, volunteers were equally enthusiastic. “We had children, parents, and even grandparents completely fascinated,” one exhibitor said. “Model railways bring engineering, history and imagination together, and today we saw three generations enjoying it side by side.”
A performer from one of the dance groups described the energy on stage: “The crowd was so warm and supportive. You could feel people clapping not just for performance, but for the joy of it. It didn’t feel like a show, it felt like a celebration.”
Another resident said “it was lovely to see so much diversity in the room, where we could all appreciate each other’s cultures”
The event forms part of Re-Imagine Slough, the growing movement to transform the town through arts, culture and community-led activity, and was supported through Viva Slough’s Rhyzome Creative Network, funded by Arts Council England.
Following the success of the festival, Viva Slough plans to make the Hobby Festival a regular annual celebration of community creativity.
