The Roxeth Show Returns – Saturday 12th July
After over a decade long hiatus, The Roxeth Show is back! On Saturday 12th July, from 11am to 5:30pm, Roxeth Recreation Ground will once again play host to this much-loved community festival.
From 1979 until 2014, The Roxeth Show was a cherished annual event for South Harrow families. For generations, it marked a highlight in the local calendar – full of celebration, spectacle and community pride. As a councillor representing Roxeth, it might be one of the most common things residents raise at surgeries, in the park or at street stalls: “Why did it stop?” and “Can we bring it back?”
This year, we’re finally bringing it back. What started as a few nostalgic conversations in coffee shops and community meetings has grown into something real – thanks to incredible support from local park groups, teachers, scout leaders, businesses and residents. The logistics may be demanding (sponsorship calls and portaloo planning take up most evening now) but the passion behind it makes it all worthwhile.
For me, South Harrow has always been full of community – but we’ve lost some of the shared spaces that bring people together. I want churches, mosques, Nepalese restaurants, scout groups, and schools to share one big day, in our big park. And July 12th, we will again.
The Show will have plenty of pizza, kathi rolls, cocktails and donuts and will feature live performances from local acts like Trumpet Musketeers and Indie Choir, school showcases led by Welldon Park Primary, and a two-part dog show compered by Radio Harrow and pet shop judges. It’s a real celebration of who we are in 2025.
There will be a variety of dog show categories; Big and Small, Best Puppy under 1yr, Best groomed, Best In Class, Judges favourite, Best Rescued Dog, Golden Oldies, £2 per competition or £5 for three.
And for the brave among us… I’m most excited for the Pepe’s Peri Peri Extreme Wing-Eating Challenge. I’ve taken on a few spicy food challenges before – including one where I may have choked on stage at Made in Harrow (not my finest hour!). This is definitely not for the faint-hearted… but the winner walks away with a £50 Pepe’s gift voucher.
Of course, the challenge is just one part of an incredible day. With just over a week to go, Roxeth Recreation Ground will be buzzing with live music, food stalls, family activities, and community spirit. And for those with a bit of luck, the community raffle is offering its biggest prizes yet.
This year’s top prizes include:
- Two tickets to England vs Wales at Wembley Stadium, ahead of crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers
- Squid Game Experience for four, generously sponsored by RG Live
- £50 food & drink tab at The Star
- A free MOT from AVS Roxeth Green
- Two Heriots Cakes
- Nando’s meal vouchers
- McDonald’s merchandise
- Costa Coffee goodies
Whether you’re coming for the wings, the raffle, the legendary dog show, or just to soak up the atmosphere, The Roxeth Show on Saturday 12th July is shaping up to be the community event of the summer.
This revival also builds on South Harrow Stories, a small pseudo-history project I’ve developed to highlight our unsung residents and local heritage. A few of those featured voices – Paul Turner from Harrow District Scouts, Louise Bloomfield, Assistant Head at Welldon Park and Dr Manek Patel of the Roxeth Walking Group – have been instrumental in making this happen.
Paul Turner:
Paul attended every single Roxeth Show from its inception in 1979 to its last show in 2014. His memories of the event span decades, although they’ve been enriched (and perhaps slightly skewed) by hours of footage he has watched over the years. Each thought opens up a treasure trove of personal memories. Paul can recount exactly what worked, who worked, what really worked, and what didn’t quite go to plan.
“We had a hot air balloon one year that inflated but we were unable to get it in the air for all sorts of reasons. The largest ferris wheel in the country, that one was a bit messy.
A Wild Wild West show which required the most safety regulations we ever needed, there were live rounds and explosions and real cowboy re-enactments!
Ian’s family brought in real horses and even a fire engine.
And the fireworks for the 20th show—those were special. More people joined in the evening celebrations, and it felt like something for the whole community.”
Louise Bloomfield:
“We’re so lucky to have beautiful green spaces right on our doorstep in South Harrow,” Louise Bloomfield, Assistant Head of Welldon Park says.
“Many of my fondest memories growing up here are of spending time in our wonderful green spaces and parks. Summers were all about long days under the willows or jumping over the Yeading, and it’s a joy to now share these same experiences with my son.”
Now, as a member of the Roxeth Show Committee, Louise is thrilled about the opportunity to help organise a day that brings the entire South Harrow community together. “The Roxeth Show is a fantastic way to connect with neighbours, celebrate our community, and enjoy a fun-filled day. I remember the Shows of my childhood and can’t wait to see everyone come together to make it truly special.”
Manek Patel:
For well over thirty years, the Roxeth Walkers have been quietly carving out their own ritual at Roxeth Park. Whatever life has thrown at them – new homes, new grandchildren, changes at work, ill health or the rainiest of mornings – very little has got in the way of their daily meet-up. They gather, walk, and finish with a well-earned cup of tea or coffee at the local Costa. It’s more than a walk – it’s a routine, a sanctuary, a lifeline.
For Dr Manek Patel, the Chair of Roxeth Park Friends Group, this is a return to something special “a long-time coming and I’m delighted to join Cllr Rashmi Kalu in bringing the Roxeth Show back for park users. All of our walking group and tai chi practitioners have been looking forward to this day for months! We have missed it. Our community has always been here but it’s always a bit more special to have the full tapestry of South Harrow with us.”
A Labour councillor for Roxeth ward in South Harrow, Rashmi Kalu is a contributor to Harrow Online who writes about local community issues, events and food. He is the organiser of the annual Roxeth Show and founder of Harrow Food Friends, a local platform reviewing restaurants, cafés and eateries across the borough.
