THOUSANDS of people flooded into Finsbury Park on Sunday o enjoy the return of a free anti-racism festival – despite less-than-perfect conditions.
THOUSANDS of people flooded into Finsbury Park on Sunday o enjoy the return of a free anti-racism festival - despite less-than-perfect conditions.
The UpRise festival attracted about 2,000 revellers, according to organiser Mike Barnard.
He said: "It went really well - I was really pleased so many people came given the conditions. People were there from the word go and waiting to get in for the 12.30pm start - even though the sun didn't come out until around 2pm."
Highlights included rapper Ty, who closed out the festival with a crowd-pleasing set, and a speech by former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.
Finsbury Park residents Mr Barnard and Freya van Lessen, both of Bolton Walk, took matters into their own hands when Mayor of London Boris Johnson cancelled the festival's predecessor Rise in 2008 - and after a long battle to get it restaged they have now seen the fruits of their labour.
Mr Barnard added: "Fingers crossed we'll be back next year in the summer, with an even bigger event - and long may it continue.
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