Folkestone’s Multi-Cultural Festival - 14th –17th June 2007
The idea for the Festival was conceived by Folkestone Town
Centre Management Ltd., Folkestone Area Partnership Against Crime and Discover
Folkestone Hythe & Romney Marsh. With the help of Shepway District Council we
were able to secure Awards For All Lottery Funding, which ensured the idea could
be turned into a reality.
The Festival’s aim is to make us all aware of the different cultures in our
community by celebrating diversity through a range of family friendly
activities. This is a first for Folkestone and my colleagues have worked
tirelessly to ensure a fantastic programme in conjunction with numerous
organisations, clubs, shops, restaurants, public houses and businesses in the
area – Discover Folkestone, Migrant Helpline, Kent Police, Folkestone Gurkha/Nepali
Community, Shepway Ethnic Minority Organisation, Folkestone Polish Club, the
Folkestone Handbook, the French and Breton Dance Group, Folkestone Artists
Co-operative, HarbourMart, Chaucer College, The India, Gurkha Palace, Costa
Coffee, East Kent Morris Men, Folkestone & District National Dance Group etc..
The dance performances, singing groups, fashion shows, entertainers and
workshops will enthral you. On Saturday there is a singing workshop, Giants will
parade down Sandgate Road at 10am to start our festivities which will continue
through until the evening. There are international food tasting sessions and
international art shows by local school children and local artists. The
Folkestone Artist Co-operative members are also organising a craft project to
produce the largest map of the world, which we hope will be included in the
Guinness Book of Records, so everyone is asked to come and do a little bit to
make the record happen. There is a country and barn dancing evening on Friday
15th June, tickets for sale from Folkestone Town Centre Management 01303 850522
at £6 each, and on Saturday evening live music at the amphitheatre, so bring a
picnic or try some of the international foods on sale during the evening. There
is so much to keep you and your family busy for many hours including a
sandcastle competition and stamps for your passport programme which each have a
prize of a crossing to France by car donated by Eurotunnel.
Free passport programmes will be available from local shops and businesses or
contact Folkestone Town Centre Management on 01303 850522, or for event details
go to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk
We are grateful to all the communities involved for their enthusiasm and input.
We hope that with your support we will be able to secure funding for 2008 and
participate in an even bigger Festival. Meanwhile, come and enjoy the 2007
Festival.
Article from Go Folkestone Newsletter June 2007
