Well, I suppose I raised expectations in Sharrow Festival last week—Abbeyfield Multicultural Festival did not disappoint.
After the forecast said warm, humid and a strong risk of thundery showers, it was hot, sunny, not too humid and no rain at all.
Highlights of the day: Sheffield Samba Band leading the carnival procession with tonnes of brightly-dressed school kids and stiltwalkers, Stephanie’s roast pepper wrap and dumpling [second mention on the site already], Mr K’s pakoras, my mate Akiel [age 6] break dancing [very well] on the main stage, our yearly encounter with Carlos [and this year we remembered to swap phone numbers!], seeing hordes of people with I read the Burngreave Messenger—Do you? stickers on, selling loads of stuff from the stall, having a giggle with Rob, seeing Rich and Ian in BNDfC baseball caps, the Yemeni dancers, aland grinning at the setting up of four networked PCs in Abbeyfield Stables, ACAB wearing a cardboard copper hat, Special bigin’ up everyone and loads of other stuff.
The main greatness of Abbeyfield though, is that the whole of Burngreave in all its diverse wonderfulness comes out to play for the afternoon. The park is full [12,000 entries to park during day—which includes people going in and/or out more than once] of folks from everywhere—Yemenis, Somalis, Kashmiris, Kosovans, Pakistanis, Iraqis, Africans, Caribbeans, Chileans [and quite a few different flavours of white too]; of all ages from babies to great-great grandmas.It’s one of the most diverse environments I’ve ever come across in my whole life and swear I didn’t hear a cross word all day. Though there are trappings of commerciality [in which I take part—Abbeyfield is an important pay day for Crafty Things, I’ve got kids to feed you know] there is an air of liberation in the air. There’s a feeling of our space around. It’s a chance to catch up with people you haven’t seen for a year, to have that no worries vibe all around and to laugh a lot.
Many places claim to be a fun day out for all the family, few deliver on the promise. Abbeyfield Multicultural Festival does. See you next year—well you are coming aren’t you?
posted by pault at 01:24, 23 July 2003 | burngreave , community , life , sheffield