Welcome to Engage!Fest, where the glitter was abundant, the dancefloor was full, and the vibes were immaculate. This was our evening kick-off to Engage!25 The London Experience. And what better way to begin than with our own twist on the great British summer festival? Perched 35 floors above the city at Sky Garden, the Engage!Fest welcome party was a full-sensory celebration that was part rave, part glamorous garden soirée. Think: flower crowns and frozen margaritas, sparkling sequins, sizzling tacos, caviar, and rooftop revelry. From the interactive glam bar to the panoramic sunset views, Engage!Fest captured the carefree spirit of London in full bloom.
A Garden in the Clouds
Like all good parties, Engage!Fest started with an arrival to remember. Guests arrived in iconic red London Routemaster buses, swept through rain-dappled streets from Mayfair to the City. From the moment they arrived at 20 Fenchurch Street (which Londoners know as the ‘Walkie Talkie’), it was clear this would be no ordinary night. 35 floors up, the Sky Garden soared, an architectural glasshouse perched high above the financial district, with panorama stretching from the dome of St Paul’s to the glittering Shard. With its epic glass windows, open-air terrace, and lush tropical greenery, the Sky Garden made the perfect indoor-outdoor urban summer escape.
Setting & Design
For the Engage!Fest welcome party, the creative team led by Bruce Russell Events reimagined the spirit of a fresh-air summer music festival, infusing it with all the energy, elegance, and exuberance that Engage! is known for. This was Party in the Park meets soirée in the sky, with abundant florals and immersive scent design. Attendees were greeted by a large-scale installation by Neill Strain Floral Couture, a head sculpted entirely from fresh blooms. More flowers decked colorful food stalls, and there was also a BangaBooth styled like a meadow of wildflowers. Guests stepped into a whimsical dreamscape of scent, color, and contagious energy.
Food and Drink, Festival Style
Everyone who’s ever tucked into a burger or loaded nachos from Glastonbury all the way to Coachella knows that food is a big part of the festival experience. At Engage!Fest, a whimsical lineup of stations brought street food to life but with a gourmet twist. Mini tacos, burgers and dogs, golden fries, and even a Petrossian caviar bar! For dessert, think nostalgic treats with a cheeky twist. Swirls of Mr. Whippy soft serve with a range of candy-colored toppings sparked childhood nostalgia, while CBD cake pops, chocolate ‘happy pills’ filled with caramel ganache and popping candy, loaded donuts, and popcorn s’mores, all served with a bit of whimsy. It was deliciously unserious, and totally unforgettable!
Cocktails were just as fun. Attendees sipped their way through a curated cocktail lineup that started with an Aperol Spritz bar and moved into icy frozen margaritas and floral-forward concoctions like the ‘Primrose Hill’ and the ‘Lemongrass Lemon Grove,’ along with delicious wines from Liberty Wines and Whispering Angel.
Live from London: Entertainment Highlights
If the decor and food set the stage, the entertainment was the main event. As the city lights twinkled below, our attendees embraced the festival spirit. The Engage!Fest Welcome Party featured electric live performances from ALRMusic’s show-stopping lineup. First up, The Cadillacs warmed up the crowd with a set of British legends, like The Beatles, Amy Winehouse, and The Rolling Stones.
Next came Ministry of Brass, their house-meets-horns performance building to a euphoric crescendo. Finally, as night fell and the city lights twinkled below, BEAT kept the dance floor packed with their 10-piece DJ Live set (complete with a sax solo on the bar that had the crowd roaring). Every beat drop and singalong delivered that unmistakable rush only live music creates. The dancefloor became a sea of sparkle and movement, a celebration of sound, connection, and serious good vibes.
Dress Code & Attire
At every Engage! event, fashion is part of the fun. Each part of the itinerary comes with its own carefully curated dress code and a Pinterest board packed with ideas to spark inspiration. But the true magic lies in how our attendees interpret the theme, and at Engage!Fest, they definitely understood the assignment!
The brief was ‘festival glam’ and the results were pure joy. Sequins shimmered, mirrored sunglasses caught every pulse of light, and iridescent accents shone between metallic minis, glitter beards, and neon accessories. From bold color-blocking to floaty sheer layers, the looks were as diverse as they were dazzling. Proof that when you give visionaries a theme, they run with it.
To help with the glow-up, our pop-up glam station hosted by the fabulous Team Glam offered guests a fun opportunity for bold self-expression. This was a beauty experience designed for creativity and confidence. Think bronzed skin, glowing cheeks, and bold lips; full Euphoria eyes, crystal decals, and shimmer in all the right places. From glitter freckles to sparkling space buns, every guest left glowing.
Engage!Fest was the perfect way to start Engage!25 The London Experience. Our creative spark was ignited by an atmosphere charged with joy and possibility. So here’s to nights that turn into mornings and friends who turn into family. This was just the beginning!
Want to relive the magic in full technicolor? View the full gallery here.
