Party in the Park

Prepare for a Peace celebration!
Saturday 7 July, Woking Park, 12noon to 9pm

The free family-friendly festival attracts thousands of partygoers every year and is one of the most hotly anticipated events in Surrey. This year, our Borough marks the centenaries of the end of World War One and the victory won by women in achieving the right to vote for the first time, in a family friendly extravaganza.

Everyone is invited to join our celebration parade starting at 12noon and featuring the Military Wives Choir, Windsor, Gordon's School Pipes and Drums, Woking Veterans and with a guest appearance by Joey the War Horse from the National Theatre stage show.

This year's theme explained...

On November 11 2018, it will be exactly 100 years since the guns fell silent on the battlefields of France, and World War One finally came to an end. This year also sees the Centenary of the monumental victory won by women as their tireless campaign for equal voting rights was won. In Woking especially, the contribution by local suffragette, Dame Ethel Smyth, was instrumental in achieving the vote. You can read more about her, and Surrey in the Great War, here.

After the Armistice in 1918, The Woking News and Mail described how Woking “gave full and enthusiastic expression to the joy it felt over the conclusion of peace” by throwing an enormous party across the town with parades, sports, games, music and tea.

The celebrations were to give thanks for peace, and to honour the sacrifices made by service men and women who gave their lives to achieve it. Active women’s rights group the Co-operative Women’s Guild marched proudly with their banner next to many other community groups through the Town Centre and along Wych Hill Road into Woking Park.

An entire century on, and we still know how to throw a party that would make our ancestors proud! Everyone is invited to the free family celebration of equality, diversity and unity at this year’s vintage Party in the Park.