See the Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival

Taking tradition alive in London, the annual London Pearly Kings & Queens Society Costermongers Harvest Festival Parade Service takes place today, with the Kings and Queens gathering in Guildhall Yard and then parading through the City to St Mary-le-Bow church on Cheapside.


The parade is expected to leave around 1pm and the service to begin about 3pm and Ian tells us to expect "London mayors...donkeys and carts, marching bands, colourful characters and of course the Pearlies, distinctive, pearl button-swathed Londoners who date back 150 years".

For more, see http://www.timeout.com/london/around-town/event/234284/pearly-kings-and-queens-harvest-festival-2012.

_{^Picture © Dunleavy Family used under a Creative Commons license^}

Tour the Argentine Ambassador's Residence

Ever wondered what life is like for an ambassador, when not attending drinks parties and eating Ferrero Rocher. Today as part of Open House London, the Argentine Ambassador's residence is open to the public for you to poke round.


Designed by Thomas Cubitt and built in 1851, the building was once the home of the Duke of Richmond, but since 1936 it has been owned by Argentina.

For more, see http://events.londonopenhouse.org/Building/16260

_{^Picture © La Malula used under a Creative Commons license^}

Attend Open House London

It's that time of year again, the special weekend when nosey Londoners get a chance to poke around the architectural gems of Greater London, and get inside the buildings they've always wanted to see with Open House London.


This year's big news is that 30 St Mary Axe - The Gherkin - isn't one of the ones that you have to prebook for, but by the time you read this it probably isn't worth joining the long snaking queue, as that means you'll be missing out on literally hundreds of other highlights. Wake up early tomorrow instead. Your author might usually go into more detail, but as usual Open House is clashing with something and today he is in another country, marking a birthday.

For a full programme, see http://events.londonopenhouse.org/

_{^Picture © RachelH_ used under a Creative Commons license^}

Attend Lambeth Country Show

This weekend sees the annual Lambeth Country Show hit Brockwell Park, now in its 38th year of attempting to bring a slice of semi-rural life to the urbanity of South London, and promising the likes of farm animals and horticultural shows juxtaposed with live music and slightly more urban pursuits.


The word 'eclectic' is overused, but a programme that promises sheep dog and owl displays, horse jousting, flower and vegetable competitions, bonsai trees and latin dub, afrobeat, roots and reggae bands, is probably about as close as one can get in a free event in a park.

For more, see http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Country-Show/

_{^Picture © Tabsinthe used under a Creative Commons license^}

Attend the Mayor's Thames Festival

Starting today and ending tomorrow, the Mayor's Thames Festival always offers a fitting end to the summer season in London and, in what has - like it or not - been a rather good summer for London's mayor, it seems rather fitting that the annual huge party plastered with his title arrives in London on the final days of the Paralympics.


Boris has effortlessly managed to associate himself with almost everything good about London in 2012 whilst avoiding major incident, and London’s free end-of-summer festival is always a joyous celebration, so there is nothing to suggest that he will slip up here. Held since 1997, the festival is London’s largest outdoor arts festival, and all finished up with a big firework display. It can't really go wrong.

For more, see http://thamesfestival.org/

_{^Picture © fotologic used under a Creative Commons license^}

Attend Kingston Carnival

It's Kingston Carnival today, promising to bring the world to Kingston, with a procession, music and try the international foods from noon- 6pm.


It might not be an event as big as last weekend's, but often these smaller events are just as rewarding and with two stages - in the High Street and the Market Place - as well as Street Theatre, stalls and children’s areas it should be enough to while away an hour or so.

For more, see http://www.kingston.gov.uk/kingston_carnival_2012

_{^Picture © Darren Foreman used under a Creative Commons license^}

See the 2012 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion

Your author is rather a fan of architecture, and as such the annual erection of the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, beside the Gallery in Kensington Gardens, is always a highlight. This year is the twelfth time a Pavilion has been erected, and the 2012 version was designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei.


This year's Pavilion is, we are told, a reflection on previous constructions, with eleven columns representing one for each previous pavilion. The Pavilion offers visitors the opportunity to sink beneath the Gallery lawn, whilst protecting them with a roof which appears to hover 1.5 metres above the ground.

For more, see http://www.serpentinegallery.org/2012/02/serpentine_gallery_pavilion_2012.html

Attend the London Mela

Today, out in West London's Gunnersbury Park, the London Mela returns for its 10th anniversary to celebrate music and culture, with a particular focus on the Indian sub continent.


Across nine zones, visitors to the free event can expect music from Jaz Dhami and live band, all female Chinese drumming group Red Poppies, BBC Asian Network DJ, and new talent in the UK from BBC Introducing and DJ Bobby Friction.

For more, see http://www.londonmela.org

_{^Picture © John Pannell used under a Creative Commons license^}

Go to the Carnaval Del Pueblo Latino Festival

Though the failure of everyone's least favourite wasteland-based-dust-bowl has caused the cancellation of the main annual event, Carnaval Del Pueblo are still planning a party today, taking over the Coronet Theatre, close to the Elephant & Castle roundabout, for a Latino Festival.


They're promising a range of top-drawer musicians, free Latin dance classes, DJs all day and even an Andean area, and they probably need your support, promising to unite all communities under one roof.

For more, see http://www.carnavaldelpueblo.co.uk/

_{^Picture © SPakhrin used under a Creative Commons license^}

Celebrate Bastille Day

Today is Bastille Day, the national day of France, and a free treat for Francophiles is scheduled to take place in Bankside. The 5th year in a series of 'official' such celebrations, we are told, will offer eating, drinking, dancing and singing.


Based around Borough Market and Park Street, the event offers specific French traders at the market, a traditional 14th July Waiters’ Race, pétanque, baby-foot and other things. It will either be good, or a cheese-maker-sponsored disappointment.

For more, see www.bastillefestival.co.uk

_{^Picture © Amanda Vincent-Rous used under Creative Commons^}

Attend the London Map Fair

As far as your author is concerned, anyone who is unable to find interest in old maps has no soul, and so the London Map Fair, which concludes its annual two day event today, is sure to be an interesting affair.


The largest antique map fair in Europe, the London Map Fair was established in 1980 and, we are told, brings together 40 leading antiquarian map dealers, and hundreds of other dealers, collectors, curators at the Royal Geographical Society, with maps on sale from £10 to £100,000.

For more, see http://www.londonmapfairs.com/

_{^Picture © El Bibliomata used under a Creative Commons license^}

Poke around some private gardens

This weekend is Open Garden Squares Weekend, and offers the chance to poke around some of London's mysterious private gardens, which are otherwise only open to residents, in association with the National Trust.


We are told that 208 gardens are opening their gates for the weekend, across 27 boroughs, with 24 ones participating. It's great if you're interested in gardens or just a bit nosey.

For more, see http://www.opensquares.org/

_{^Picture © David Hawgood used under a Creative Commons license^}

Attend the London Green Fair

London's largest green festival, the London Green Fair, takes place this weekend, with music, speakers, performances, market stalls, children's activities, food and drink on offer, all within the comfortable surroundings of Regent's Park.


This year's event marks the 20th anniversary of the festival, moving over that time - we are told - from a small gathering in the railway arches at Kings Cross, to a flagship environmental festival attracting tens of thousands of people each year.

The festival runs until 8.30pm today, and from midday until 7.30pm tomorrow. For more, see http://www.londongreenfair.org/

_{^Picture © copyright Stephen Craven used under a Creative Commons license^}

Embrace the London Festival of Photography

The second annual London Festival of Photography is upon us, with scores of photographs on show in venues in King's Cross, Bloomsbury, Euston, Fitzrovia and beyond. Some venues are more predictable than others, with exhibitions taking place at the British Museum and the Museum of London, but the venues are pleasantly mixed, and your author caught a rather interesting exhibition the other evening on the concourse at St Pancras Station.


The exhibition your author saw part of, The Great British Public, is a pleasant look at life in Britain, with work by John Angerson, Nick Cunard, Arnhel de Serra, Zed Nelson and others, but barely scratches the surface of the month-long series of events, exhibitions and workshops which continue until 1st July.

For more, see http://www.lfph.org/

Attend Stoke Newington Literary Festival

As your author makes a break for another literary festival near the border, up in Stoke Newington they are beginning their own such event, with speakers as diverse as Maurice Glasman, Danny Wallace and The Gruffalo.


One of the most enticing meetings sees London explorers Mark Mason and Craig Taylor join together at 1pm on Sunday at the newly reopened Clissold House in what promises to be a great event.

For more, see http://www.stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com/

_{^Picture © Hackney Plus used under Creative Commons^}

Watch the Cavalry Memorial Parade

As per advance warning given by Ian and other websites the 88th Combined Cavalry Memorial Service and Parade takes place today in Hyde Park, as it does every May.


The event kicks off at around 10.45am, forming up on the Regimental Marker on the Broad Walk in Hyde Park. We are told to expect music from two marching bands and the saluting of an international golfer.

For more, see http://www.ianvisits.co.uk/calendar/detail.php?uid=18861

_{^Picture © Dave-F used under a Creative Commons license and actually of the trooping of the colour but you get the idea^}

See some Museums at Night

We're already onto day two of the annual Museums at Night weekend, but there are still some fantastic events taking place this evening, and even a few tomorrow.


Tonight sees a late opening at the Royal Observatory's Astronomy Centre in Greenwich, late talks at Apsley House, art by candlelight at the London Canal Museum and late steam engines at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, amongst others.

For more, see http://www.culture24.org.uk/places+to+go/museums+at+night

_{^Picture © Will668 used under a Creative Commons license^}

Attend the Covent Garden May Fayre

An annual May Fayre takes place in Covent Garden today, organised by Alternative Arts will be held in the churchyard of St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, it offers a procession around Covent Garden, Punch and Judy performances, and, we are told, a special church service with Mr Punch in the pulpit at the church.


There will also be workshops, stalls and folk music, all with a puppetry theme, in a tradition held to coincide with Punch's birthday earlier this week on May 9th, the date when Samuel Pepys first recorded seeing Mr Punch in England.

For more, http://www.thebiggrin350.com/The_Big_Grin/Big_Birthday_Party.html

_{^Picture © donald judge used under Creative Commons^}

Attend the Canalway Cavalcade

An annual tradition since 1983, Little Venice's Canalway Cavalcade is on all weekend, celebrating life on the water. It is organised by the Inland Waterways Association in association with canal users from around London and the country.


We are told to expect fun for all the family all weekend, with boats, stalls, bands, kids’ activities, competitions, Morris Dancers, and a real ale bar. Let's just hope the weather holds out.

For more, visithttp://www.waterways.org.uk/events_festivals/canalway_cavalcade_2012/canalway_cavalcade_2012

_{^Picture by daveograve@^}

Watch the Islington Milkmaids Garland

Well done to the always-on-the-ball Ianvisits, who alerts us to the revival of the Islington Milkmaids Garland tradition by all-female Morris troupe New Esperance, who will be on the streets of North London today.


The dancers start at The Compton Arms at around 11.30am, proceeding down Upper Street and dancing outside the King's Head, on Islington Green, at the Steam Passage and finishing at the Camden Head.

For those on the lookout for other traditional May Day ceremonies, the Tired of London, Tired of Life book has a particularly good one on pages 74 & 75, which will also be processing in the City of London today.

For more on the Islington Milkmaids Garland, see http://newesp.org.uk/events.html

_{^Picture © Copyright Robert Lamb and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence^}