Darnhill Festival’s reputation as the Lucky Festival was challenged for the first time in years with wet weather conditions throughout the morning and cloudy during the afternoon. But despite the weather conditions more than thousand people came together for a celebration of culture and creativity – and the rain held off.
Residents believe that Darnhill festival is great for getting people together, celebrating community cohesion, keeping morale up and bringing diversity and culture in the community, raising the aims and aspirations of local young people while having fun.
The fantastic Parade featured local Brownie and Rainbow groups, Heap Bridge and Our Lady and St Paul’s primary schools, Chrysalis and Skylight Arts. Artists Barbara Hughes, Sarah Oxley and Adel Kay worked on the Parade, as well as dancers Claire Fildes of Can’t Dance Can and Trixi Bold, and at the back of the Parade was the amazing Water Cycle created by Julian Taylor and Love Your Bike.
After the Parade the Festival included a wide range of activities including radio workshops in the Tell Us Another One / ALL FM marquee, tie dyeing in the City of Trees/Art for Wellbeing marquee and willow work and henna hand painting in the Arts marquee. There were stage performances from The Voice, Mr Bifter and Sonore, among others, programmed by Music Street. Many people enjoyed the intimate performances when they were swallowed up by the Whale and the banter from the Fairly Famous Family’s Lifeguards.