Maidstone Mela
Sunday 9 September
Mote Park
Willow Way
Maidstone
The Maidstone Mela which celebrates the diversity of Maidstone through music, food and dance is now in its fifth year. The Mela is organised in partnership by Maidstone Borough Council and North West Kent Racial Equality Council. Since the inception of the Mela in 2003, the event has attracted thousands of people each year to Mote Park, where they have witnessed performances of music and dance from around the world. This year the Mela will take place on September 9 between 12pm and 6pm, and will be headlined by the award winning Phase 5 Steel Band, Four by Four Bhangra Group and Bloco Fogo Samba Group.
The launch of the Mela takes place on July 12 at 10.45am. There will be a colorful children’s parade with pupils from Park Way, St Francis and St Michaels Primary schools taking part led by the Four by Four Bhangra dhol drummers. The parade will start outside Marks and Spencer in Week Street then it will go down Fremlins Walk before turning left into Earl Street and finishing back at Week Street. In addition posters and information on the Mela will be given out to shoppers by members of the Mela Advisory Group.
Gurvinder Sandher Assistant Director of North West Kent Racial Equality Council commented 'I am really pleased with how the Maidstone Mela has developed. The Mela has evolved from a one day celebration of music, food and dance to one which celebrates the diversity of Maidstone over several months. The launch is an excellent example of how young people are now involved and this years launch will be the biggest to date. I believe that the work we are doing in Maidstone is a beacon for other parts of the country and is an excellent example of how the arts can be used to promote community cohesion.'
