Celebrate 50 Years of Jacksons Lane
Saturday 28 June 2025 | 11am – 4pm
Join us on Saturday 28 June 2025 as we mark 50 years of Jacksons Lane with a weekend of creativity, community, and celebration.
Expect circus parades, live music, pop-up performances, workshops, food, crafts, and plenty of surprises — plus a chance to dive into our rich history through exhibitions, trails, and storytelling.
Highlights include:
- A circus parade
- A BBQ
- Pop-up performances
- A heritage trail and shopfront displays celebrating our activist roots
- A poster and archive exhibition of five decades of Jacksons Lane
- A listening studio capturing the voices and stories of our community
- Workshops, crafts and family activities throughout the building
- A community stage featuring local performers
Whether you’ve known us for years or are brand new, come be part of this special moment.
Events and shows – Studio 1
Free but booking strongly recommended due to limited capacity.
Jazz Improv | 11am–11.30am
A fun, beginner-friendly intro to jazz with trombonist Rory Ingham.
Find out more and book tickets here.
Circus Free Play | 11.30am–12pm
Try out juggling, poi, hula hoops, pedal go and more – all ages welcome!
Find out more and book tickets here.
Storytelling | 12.15pm–1pm
Gather around to hear tales of magic and wonder from the last 50 years of Jacksons Lane.
Find out more and book tickets here.
Charlie the Clown | 1.15pm–2pm
Balloons, singing, dancing and pure joy from a classic circus entertainer.
Find out more and book tickets here.
Foan & Fortune | 2.30pm–3pm
A delightful puppet performance from returning favourites Foan & Fortune.
Find out more and book tickets here.
Circus Free Play | 3.15pm – 4pm
Another chance to try out juggling, poi, hula hoops, pedal go and more – all ages welcome!
Find out more and book tickets here.
All-Day Activities (11am–4pm)
Free and no booking required
Jacksons Lane’s Community Stage – Foyer
Live acts from local groups, including our Social Lunch, Youth Circus and Christmas Day entertainers. See the full line-up of performers here.
Exhibition – Lower Foyer
From a ‘Noble Experiment’ to a long-term endeavour, explore Jacksons Lane history all around the building through a special exhibition depicting the moments (and menus) that made us.
Young Heritage Producers – Studio 3
A youth-curated exhibition exploring Jacksons Lane’s radical past with audio and interactive displays.
Bunting Party – Studio 4
A drop-in craft session for all ages — help us fill the building with memories and bunting!
Oral History Room – Studio 5
Drop in to hear stories from our 50-year history and tune into our Boogaloo Radio takeover. Headphones available or bring your own.
Into the Archive – Meeting Room
Meet our archivist and explore rarely seen stories and artefacts from our history.
Promenade Performances
Catch free circus performances at 11.30am, 1.30pm & 3pm in and around the building, featuring acrobatics, hand-balancing, juggling and live music.
Heritage Activity Pack
While you’re enjoying the day, don’t miss our specially created activity pack for all ages. Pick up a booklet on-site or download it here to take with you as you explore the building. Discover memories from our communities and share your ideas for what the next 50 years of Jacksons Lane could look like.
This event is a free celebration for all who attend. We will also be collecting donations and selling raffle tickets to support the future of Jacksons Lane.
