Mega month kicks off with fun in the park
Date published: 13 July 2009
Photo: CHRIS SUNDERLAND
ALL smiles . . . Kasi Searles and Carter Shuttleworth-Parkisson on a tea cup ride.
It will be a mega month in Oldham with a colourful Festival of Diversity which launched with a Mega Mela in Alexandra Park yesterday.
The festival, which runs until August 8, highlights the different cultures in Oldham through dance, a talent contest, folk festival, singing, faith groups, writers, play, gardening and even bowling.
Yesterday’s free Mega Mela, attracted thousands of people for food, fun, a fair, music and a variety of stalls.
Sunshine and showers greeted guests — which including the Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham, councillors Jim McArdle and Kay Knox.
Shaehzad Chaudhry, from the organising Mela group, said the action was beamed live on international Asian TV station DM Digital.
He said: “We had people from all over the country, Scotland, Birmingham, and London, lots of families, all ages, and even though we had a couple of downpours everyone stayed to enjoy the fun.”
Main acts were the Hunterz, and three stars from Rishi Rich productions, H-Dhami, Veronica and Mumzi.
This week the festival continues at Oldham Coliseum with the award-winning Dance Platform for young people tomorrow. The theatre also hosts Dancing Down the Decades on Wednesday.
That is The All Stars Drama Group’s fusion of singing and dancing down the decades from the 1920s to date, presented by people with learning disabilities.
On Thursday, Oldham’s over-60s line up for the Silver Stars talent contest organised by Age Concern, followed by the festival choir night on Friday.
Six local choirs will perform the song Ubuntu meaning “I am because we are”, written and composed by local musicians John Rowan and Martin Ashurst, at three festival events, starting at the Coliseum.
But the action moves to Saddleworth on Friday with the annual weekend Folk Festival at various locations in Uppermill and Greenfield.
Organisers say the festival is seeing a year-on-year growth and in 2008, 25,000 people from all over the borough took part in 41 events.
