Soup With the Mayor and a Free Meal: Inside Stratford’s KindFest

KindFest, a week of free events in and around Stratford-upon-Avon, runs from Saturday 14 to Saturday 21 November. The festival’s own listings show 22 sessions so far, hosted by local people, groups and businesses, from a soup lunch with the Mayor to morning runs, yoga, gardening and a free three-course meal.

It’s organised by The Mission Planet, a Stratford community interest company, and more events are still being added. The Stratford Herald, which reported the festival first, says its supporters include Stratford Town Trust, the BID, the Town Council and the Crowne Plaza.

Just turn up

These need no booking:

• Book and plant swap: Saturday 14, Tuesday 17 and Thursday 19 November, 10am to 4pm, at Net Zero Stratford’s Climate Hub, 30 Meer Street. You can take something without bringing anything.
• KindFest stand at the Waterside Upmarket: Sunday 15 November from 10am, Bancroft Gardens.
• Community gardening: Monday 16 November, 11am, Lifeways Community Garden, 30 Albany Road.
• The Mayor’s Soup Lunch: Tuesday 17 November, 1pm, Town Hall, Sheep Street, with Cllr Sam McNaught-Barrow and a short talk about kindness.
• Brook Arts Hub open day: Friday 20 November from 10am, 24 Cottage Lane, Shottery, with creative workshops.
• Community Kitchen: Friday 20 November, 5pm, Ken Kennett Centre, Justins Avenue. A vegetarian three-course meal made from surplus supermarket food.
• KindFest Showcase: Saturday 21 November from 10am, Crowne Plaza, Bridgefoot, with the week’s hosts and short talks.

Runners have several options too. PB Run Club sets off from outside the RSC at 8.45am on Sunday 15 November and 6pm on Thursday 19 November. Run Talk Run meets at Lifeways at 6.15pm on Tuesday 17 November, and there’s a 5.30am 5km from the Crowne Plaza on Monday 16 November, for early risers.

Book a place

Still free, but with limited places, so book through the KindFest page:

• a free guest pass for the gym, pool and spa at Bannatyne Wildmoor, Alcester Road, all week
• Hotpod Yoga classes at Shottery Brook Office Park, Sunday 15 November at 6pm and Wednesday 18 November at 8.30pm
• a Nordic walk at the Local Nature Reserve on Monday 16 November at 10.30am, and a gentler walk in Shipston for people who are less mobile on Tuesday 17 November at 2pm
• a men’s talking group at Bannatyne on Monday 16 November at 6.15pm, and a women’s wellness workshop at the Crowne Plaza on Wednesday 18 November at 6.30pm

Before you go

KindFest’s first day is also the day of the Christmas lights switch-on, when six town centre streets close from 4am to 10pm, including Meer Street, so allow for that if you’re heading to the Climate Hub. Check times on the organiser’s page before you set off, as the programme is still growing.

Alex Harrington

Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.