The week-long Dalston People’s Festival kicks off this Saturday with a celebration in the Eastern Curve Garden.

The community gathering organised by campaign group Hackney Unites will also see community and information stalls and performances in Dalston Square and a street party in Beechwood Road.

On Sunday July 14 the Arcola theatre takes centre stage, with a session of Green Sundays, a production by the Arcola over 60s, plus the clash of “Rap v Poetry”.

Then on Monday the national HOPE not hate organisation will join representatives from the Jewish, Muslim, Black, Turkish and Kurdish communities at the Halkevi Centre in Dalston Lane at 7pm, to discuss the threats posed by violent extremists and the rise of UKIP.

The rest of the week will see walking tours, performances and a discussion of proposed developments in the area.

For the full programme see www.hackneyunites.org.uk/2013/06/whats-on.html.

Hackney Unites is appealing for volunteers to help out during the festival, see www.surveymonkey.com/s/dpfstewards for more details.