Donkey Derbys. Morris dancing. Cheese rolling.

All mad summer traditions that put the Great in Great Britain.

Not nearly as mad, however, as the Village Fete at the Victoria & Albert Museum. It takes the summer fair to another level — a rather groovy one, in fact, with contemporary masterminds (Tatty Devine, Bump, Mark Pawson) reinventing games for all the family.

For a mere £1 entry fee, you can make your own peep show or throw a hoopla with a twist (the pegs are Marcel Duchamp-esque bed pans/urinals; the hoops are ping-pong balls). Why not ice your own freaky cupcakes? Or, if you want to have your cake and eat it too, check out the ironic Heston Blumenthal Collection: the tobacco chocolate with fig jam sponge is delicious (and legal).

It all takes place in the brand new John Madejski Garden — one of this year’s must-sees.

Besides, it sure beats prancing around a pub car park in liederhosen, white socks and ballet shoes with a couple of sticks.


V&A Village Fete, Friday, 29 July, 6:30-10 p.m., and Saturday, 30 July, 1-5 p.m. Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 (020 7942 2000 or vam.ac.uk).