Set in the beautiful  leafy courtyards and surrounding streets of Hillview, a Victorian housing estate in the heart of King's Cross, the Hillview Festival is a dynamic and colourful programme of music, dance, circus, and arts activities, along side a community market, and food stalls. Free and open to everyone, the festival celebrates creative talent and cultural diversity, drawing on a wide pool of artists and performers from the local area and beyond. During the 1980s and 90s the Hillview Festival was instrumental in building a more friendly and cohesive community at a time when the Hillview Estate was deemed a hell-hole and a slum.

Hillview now sits on the edge of one of the largest and most desirable private development sites in Europe, surrounded by major corporations, high end shops and restaurants … gentrification that could lead to the loss of a quintessential spirit that makes our neighbourhood distinctive. We'd like to ensure that any changes have a positive impact, and a festival is a joyous way to develop community relations, and encourage positive social action. Residents wish to continue producing events that help retain the strength and character of our unique estate and neighbourhood.

Photo credits
This page: Festivals 1991 / 2019 - Catherine Packard, Angela Harrison 
Home banner: Festivals 2017 / 2019 - Tiago, Ray Yates, Joe Harrison, David Styan