May is a fantastic time to live in and around Dulwich. After a shaky start, it seems spring has finally sprung and Instagram is brimming with sunny terraces, alfresco dining, and ice-cold glasses of #rosé! Not that the weather could ever stop me from enjoying the latter…

The annual Dulwich Festival will run from 11th – 20th May this year and celebrates the very best our area has to offer! The jam-packed Festival programme includes artists’ open house weekends (12-13 May), street art walks (13 May), talks, food trails, music, and the popular festival fairs (13 and 20 May).

This year’s Food Trail features a truly mouth-watering array of scrumptious offerings from some of the best restaurants and cafés in the area. Platform 1 restaurant on Lordship Lane will be offering walk-in wine flights for £15 per person with a wine list that focuses on rare and indigenous varieties. I’ve been on a wine flight with Platform 1 before and can highly recommend it.

Other highlights for me include the Havelock Walk May Open Studios (12-13 May and 19-20 May), a local history walk from prehistoric times to recent history with Peter Frost of the Peckham Society (13 May), and a bat walk with the London Wildlife Trust in Sydenham Hill Wood (11 May). Visit www.dulwichfestival.co.uk for tickets to all festival events.

In non-festival news, Bell House is hosting some very interesting events this year. ‘The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain’ with Sarah-Jayne Blakemore (22nd May) explores what makes an easy child become a challenging teenager, why they struggle to get up in the morning, and what makes teenagers take excessive risks. I don’t have a teenager yet, although both my 8-year old and my husband share some similar traits so it can’t hurt to prepare!

Also at Bell House this month, join Christie Watson and Caroline Elton (8 May) as they discuss the NHS; share their views of life behind the scenes and what it is like for the teams that look after us in hospitals.

Back again this year, The Modern Movement, south London’s prestigious, free festival celebrating 20th century design, is taking place at Brockwell Lido (5-6 May).

Dulwich Park Bowls Club is hosting an Open Day (20 May). All levels welcome. The only requirement is that you wear flat shoes or bowl bare-footed.

The first ever model railway show is coming to Dulwich (26 May). The event is being held at James Allen’s Girls’ School and visitors can see up to 20 model railway layouts on show in a variety of scales.

The East Dulwich Tavern is hosting their second annual Children’s Festival over the May half term, this time with a focus on the arts! The event features a silly science show, comedy for kids, storytelling, and a kids’ disco finale.

Next month sees the return of the Crystal Palace Arts and Culture Festival (11-17 June).

The Dulwich Opera Company is returning to All Saints Church, West Dulwich (16 June) with Mozart’s classic tale of love and deception Così fan Tutte.

Until next time folks… #rosécalling

As always, details of all local news, events and ticket information can be found on our events page and on Instagram @arounddulwich.

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