Music, dance, arts and crafts – that’s what’s in store on Saturday as the Our City Festival returns.
This vibrant festival again aims to unite all York residents, groups, and communities in a celebration of diversity, inclusivity, and a collective voice.
It will take place on Saturday, 9 September from 11.30am until 3.30pm at the York Explore Library & Lawn.
The festival serves as a platform to empower individuals, fostering open-mindedness and understanding among communities and cultures.
Our City Festival aims to create an environment where hate crime reporting is increased and bystander apathy is reduced, reinforcing the values of respect, acceptance, and unity.
One of the organisers, Will Zhuang, said: “This festival is about ‘one community, many voices’. So the minority communities will come to the lawn of the library, joined by city residents, to share the different cultures of the minority communities in York.”
Cllr Katie Lomas, executive member for finance, performance, major projects and equalities at City of York Council, said: “This very welcome festival aligns with our ambition to extend and improve equality in York and we’re delighted to give it council support.
“We also back its ambition to ensure that everyone feels able to report hate crime and that it stops. This looks to be a great day so do go along and lend your support!”
The festival seeks to ensure that all residents feel valued in their city and that York continues to progress as a friendly and welcoming community.
It will feature
- Performances including music, dance and theatre
- Workshops in a variety of activities
- Talks and discussions
- Stalls.
The music and all day workshops programme is below, and you can find full details on the Our City Festival website.
What’s on
Music
11.30am – 11:45am
Qi ZHang – Tai chi workshop
11.45am – 12pm
Valentin Vinerica – Romanian keyboard performance
12pm – 12.30pm
Iroel Perez, Solo Looper Artist – Cuban musician
12.30pm – 12.45pm
Little & Young Owls Club – Recycled materials fashion show
12.45pm – 1pm
Mike Smith – Rhythm and Rhyme – With the sing of a song
1pm – 1.15pm
Damian Castillo Diaz – Latin American dance
1.15pm – 1.30pm
Sing & Sign Maestros – Makaton singing choir
2pm – 2.20pm
East Asian Ensemble – Chinese and Korean orchestral performance
2.20pm – 2.30pm
Jess gardham – guitar and vocals
3.10pm – 3.30pm
Salsa Express band – Hispanic music performance
All day workshops
Cultural children craft
York Racial Equality Network
Art and crafts recycled materials
York Learning
Face painting
Sunflowers Kids Club
Chinese calligraphy and painting
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