All the diverse fun of the festival

THIS year’s festival of diversity is expected to be bigger and better than ever, with five weeks of community celebrations including the Oldham mela.

The event will be launched with a street party in and around Oldham Parish Church tomorrow, followed by the mela in Alexandra Park on Sunday, starting at 1pm and running until 9pm.

There will be stalls, food and entertainment as well as a big-top family activity adventure.

Other events to be staged over the next five weeks include Oldham Pride, National Play Day, Disability Awareness Day, Oldham Community Performance Week at the Coliseum, and community street parties.

There will also be talent from Age Concern and Oldham Youth Service, beat-box break dancing and Frank Sinatra all on the one stage.

Travelling art exhibitions, participatory dance displays, football, choirs, face-painting, Brazilian drumming and the Pink carnival owl will also be making an appearance.

And there will be writing and community performances from Peshkar, inter-generational sports and a new volunteering initiative — community culture volunteers.

Here is a full list of activities (left) and you can keep up to date with all the events taking place by visiting www.festivalofdiversityoldham.co.uk.




What’s happening . . .



Saturday, July 12 (noon-4.30pm): Festival launch in and around Oldham Parish Church, Church Lane

Sunday, July 13 (noon-9pm): Oldham Family Mela 2008, Alexandra Park

Sunday, July 13 (11am-4pm): Leesbrook Family Fun Day, Leesbrook Nature Park

Sunday, July 13 (11am): Hollinwood Together Festival, St Margaret’s Church, Chapel Road and procession on to Limeside Park.

Tuesday, July 15 (9.30am-2.30pm): Oldham Dance Platform, Coliseum Theatre, Fairbottom Street

Tuesday, July 15 (7pm): Oldham Dance Splash, Coliseum Theatre, Fairbottom Street

Thursday, July 17 (7.30pm): Gateway to Broadway, Coliseum Theatre, Fairbottom Street

Thursday, July 17 (7pm): TALENT! Oldham Schools Together Media Studies Showcase, Gallery Oldham Education Space, Gallery Oldham

Friday, July 18 (2pm): Oldham Silver Stars Talent Show, Coliseum Theatre, Fairbottom Street

Friday, July 18 (2pm): Towards Tomorrow, Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre, Performance Space, Greaves Street, Oldham,

Friday, July 18 (7pm): Towards Tomorrow, Fitton Hill Community Centre

Friday, July 18-Sunday July 30: 11th Saddleworth Folk Festival, various venues in and around Uppermill

Saturday, July 19 (11am-3pm): Groundwork street party, Environment Centre, Shaw Road, Higginshaw

Saturday, July 19 (2.30pm): Towards Tomorrow, Coldhurst Community Centre

Saturday, July 19 (7pm): Towards Tomorrow, Newbridge School

Saturday, July 19 (4-8pm): Congress Players present Big Band Night, Coliseum Theatre, Fairbottom Street

Monday, July 21 (1-4pm): Give It A Go Family Arts and Crafts — sporting banners and flags, Gallery Oldham

Tuesday, July 22 (1-4pm): Give It A Go Family Arts and Crafts — decorated clay pots, Gallery Oldham

Wednesday, July 23 (1-4pm): Give It A Go Family Arts and Crafts — self-portraits, Gallery Oldham

Wednesday, July 23 (7pm): Oldham History Group open day, Oldham Local Studies and Archives, Union Street

Thursday, July 24 (1-4pm): Give It A Go Family Arts and Crafts —play with clay, Gallery Oldham

Saturday, July 26 (noon-4pm): Oldham Pride 08, Oldham Town Centre and leads to Gallery Oldham

Saturday, July 26 (1-5pm): St James and Waterhead Party in The Park, Stoneleigh Park, Vulcan Street, Derker

Saturday, July 26 (6pm): Ghulam Fareed International Adabi Conference/Mushaira, Coldhurst Community Center

Monday, July 28 (1-4pm): Give It A Go Family Arts and Crafts — Made In Oldham, Gallery Oldham

Tuesday, July 29 (1-4pm): Give It A Go Family Arts and Crafts — modelling for fun in clay, Gallery Oldham

Wednesday, July 30 (1-4pm): Give It A Go Family Arts and Crafts — stained glass art, Gallery Oldham

Thursday, July 31 (11am-3pm): Party In The Park, Tamworth Street Park, Tamworth Street, Werneth

Thursday, July 31 (7pm): Bushart Debut Gig Yesterday is History, The Castle, Union Street

Thursday, July 31 (1-4pm): Give It A Go Family Arts and Crafts — mod rock sporting heroes, Gallery Oldham

Sunday, August 3 (2pm): We’ve Got Talent, Tamworth Street Park, Werneth

Monday, August 4 (9.30am-3.30pm): Oldham Disability Awareness Day, Pakistani Community Centre, Marlborough Street, Glodwick

Wednesday, August 6 (1-4pm): National Play Day, Werneth Park, Frederick Street

Wednesday, August 6 (7pm): Saddleworth Peace Movement annual peace walk, starting at the King George VI Playing Fields, Uppermill

Saturday, August 9 (noon): Through The Muslim Keyhole, Oldham Muslim Centre, Compass House, Neville Street

Sunday, August 10 (noon-4pm): Chadderton Bowling Together, Coalshaw Green Park, Chadderton

Tuesday, August 12 (7.30-9.30pm): Any Questions of Faith, Oldham Council Chambers, Rochdale Road Entrance, Oldham Civic centre

Wednesday, August 13 (11am-4pm): Aftercare Football Tournament, Radclyffe Athletics Centre, Hunt Lane, Chadderton