Folkestone lines up family-fun festival

Following the success of last year's Folkestone Multi-Cultural Festival which attracted thousands of visitors and residents to join in celebrations of the town's many different cultures, a bigger event is planned for 2008 - and the organisers are inviting participation from ethnic and other groups and also from schools which would like to their pupils to be involved.

Already lined up for the four-day festival, June 12 - 15, are Gurkha, South African, Nepali and native American performers as well as local Morris dancers and a troupe from Boulogne. Cultures and customs from many places are expected to be represented in a programme of family-fun events, which include street theatre, parades, workshops, demonstrations of arts and crafts, film shows, a Time Line Tapestry produced by local schools and an 'It's a Knock Out competition'. Restaurants are being asked to feature ethnic menus, and it is hoped that bars, clubs and shops will also join in the celebrations.

Festival organiser Barbara Witham said that the festival's aim was to raise awareness of the many different and exciting cultures which contribute to the life and times of Folkestone - and at the same time provide entertainment and educational experiences for visitors and residents of all ages and interests.

"Last year's event - a first for Folkestone - was a tremendous success. Building on that, this year's programme is planned to be even more attractive and interesting - with plenty of opportunities for audience participation at venues in and around the town centre.

"We would like to hear from local groups with experience in the performing arts - singers, dancers, poets, story-tellers, etc. - who would like to participate in some way. A number of schools are already involved, but more would be welcome".

For information about how to take part in the festival, please call 01303 850522.