Featured Image: Joey Thompson on Unsplash
Wireless Festival is set to take place in Finsbury Park for the next five years, after promoter Festival Republic signed a deal with Haringey Council.
The rap and urban music festival will now take place in the north London park until 2027, despite opposition from locals and the Friends of Finsbury Park group.
According to the BBC, the group had previously complained over noise levels, drug taking and anti-social behaviour at the festival. Highbury Community Association also objected to the deal.
Wireless Festival has been held annually at Finsbury Park since 2014, except for 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. The festival attracts around 50,000 attendees per day.
Haringey Council said the five-year deal would provide funds for the park’s upkeep, and organisers have to pay an Environmental Impact Fee which is redistributed to community groups and projects.
The council said that the events raise roughly £1.2m (€1.4m/$1.5m) per year for Finsbury Park. As part of the deal, Festival Republic will also be allowed to hold a second weekend of events in the park each year, as well as two days of free community events.
Leader of Haringey Council, Cllr Peray Ahmet, said: “Finsbury Park is a thriving green space in the heart of our borough. We are incredibly proud of the park and its long history of hosting some of the biggest names in music through the summer events programme.
“As well as bringing in significant funds to help us manage and improve the park, events are an important opportunity for residents, especially our young people, to access world-class music and culture in an affordable and sustainable way.”
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