The Walsall Mela at Palfrey Park on Sunday 30th August 11.00-7.00pm
Caldmore Village Festival Group have pulled out all the stops again to bring an exciting family filled fun-day followed by an Asian Arts and Sports Festival for the whole Community.
Following a gap of two years due to funding Walsall Mela, now into its fifth year takes place in Palfrey Park and aims to benefit the whole community.
Thanks to the Awards For All, Near Neighbours and Walsall Council’s Community Safety Partnership the Mela is back on.
The Mela is organised by Caldmore Village Festival group and the last time the Mela took place in 2012 it attracted 9,000 people.
It is a celebration of all that is best in Asian arts, sports and culture and particularly aims to involve families and young people through offering a range of events and activities for all ages. The Mela will showcase traditional Asian Field sports such as Kabbadi and Stone Lifting along side a range of more universal field sports for young people to take part in such as volleyball, archery, athletics, football and cricket.
At the same time as offering a range of opportunities for participation in sports activities the Mela aims to work in partnership with local community organisations to offer a range of family activities such as arts workshops, kite making, face painting, community consultations as well as a range of stalls, exhibitions and rides. In parallel to the sports events The Mela will have a music and performance stage giving the opportunity to local and national music acts as well as providing a focus for the best in Asian dance.
This year we aim to particularly focus on the involvement of young people through developing a series of workshops in the lead up to the event in sports and cultural activities. The co-ordinator will aim to engage a range of groups, organisations and communities in preparation for the Mela, working with young people in order to hear their ideas and to organise a range of taster activities and workshops in preparation for the Mela. The Mela will provide a showcase for young people’s achievements both in arts and sports and aim to value their contribution to the local community.
Mela Coordinator Akhlaq Hussain who is very passionate about the Mela said
I am extremely excited and really looking forward to the event, I would like to invite all of you to join us, bring your families and enjoy the festivities on the day.
Councillor Mohammed Arif, vice-chair of CVFG said
It has taken lots of effort by CVFG to bring about this event and partnership working with key local organisations like Walsall Council, whg, Caldmore Accord Housing, Tarmac and South Staff Water is key to on-going success of the group. Despite the difficulties in gaining funding CVFG goes strength to strength and I am pleased that we are able to bring the Walsall community together once again to celebrate family fun day and traditional Asian sports extragavanza. We invite everyone to come along and the entrance is free to everyone.
Parking is limited and we encourage everyone to walk to the park.
