Hundreds filled the heart of Richmond today (Saturday, 13 September) for the first-ever Centre Stage festival on George Street and Whittaker Avenue.

From 11am to 7pm, residents from across the borough gathered in the town centre for the free event, which saw the high street closed to vehicles as people enjoyed food, workshops, local vendors and live music.

Those looking to get new clothes bought from the Charity Super.Mkt (credit: Cesar Medina).

Organised by Richmond Council in collaboration with HemingwayDesign, Centre Stage featured award-winning drummer Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective, neo-soul singer Hillarynx, Joe Davis of Far Out Recordings, a Youth Music Showcase curated by Richmond Music Trust and Basement Door, and local indie band Gingerella.

Children immersed themsleves in performances from Orange Tree Theatre (credit: Cesar Medina).

Festival-goers also enjoyed theatre and processions from the Orange Tree Theatre and youth-led street performers Kinetika Bloco.

The main stage featured Femi Koleoso, Hillarynx and Joe Davis (credit: Cesar Medina).

Families and children got hands-on with creative workshops, including child-led stage building, puppet making, banner design, clay modelling, spoken word, and music-making with recycled instruments.

There was lots of interative workshops on offer, including clay sculpting (credit: Cesar Medina).

Interactive art installations brought the high street to life, with recycled-fabric banners, giant Jabberwocky-inspired puppets, clay activities from Clayground Collective, and Drift Tricks, a skateable art display.

Residents queue for food from street vendors at Centre Stage (credit: Cesar Medina).

Visitors tucked into food at the communal Long Table dining area and enjoyed dishes from street vendors including Cake Hole, Borough Nuts and Vine Street.

Richmond Council wanted Centre Stage to attract more people to George Street in an innovative way (credit: Cesar Medina).

Others browsed fashion, homewares and lifestyle pieces at Petersham Nurseries' pop-up and the Charity Super.Mkt second-hand clothing market.

The festival welcomed everyone - including pets (credit: Cesar Medina).

As part of the Council's wider vision for Richmond town centre, the festival aimed to draw people into the high street to celebrate "creativity, community and contemporary culture".

This was the first time George Street was pedestrianised for a day (credit: Cesar Medina).

READ MORE: Richmond's first-of-its-kind festival, Centre Stage, to showcase the 'beauty' of the town.

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