A Preview of Beeston Festival 2012

The 18th Beeston Festival takes place on Saturday in Cross Flatts Park – here’s a preview of what you can expect.

We’ve taken the Olympic theme and come up with the Beeston Decathlon to encourage people to join in with the activities on offer. There are seventeen activities on the card, collect a stamp from any ten and you win a goody bag, plus the chance to win £25. You can be as strenuous (or not) as you like with activities ranging from photography and giant Connect-4 to Taekwondo and the Climbing Wall challenge. Just pick up a card from Information to get started.

On the music front we will have an international flavour with the main stage being graced by Hassan Erraji & His MoRoccan Rollers and the Abatimbo Burundi Drummers as well as headliners Hope And Social. The Leeds Music Trust are featuring four up and coming local bands: The Outsiders, Protectors, British Daylight and The Scandal. Over on the Acoustic Stage artists include Solaris, Hayden Cohen, Stacey Kendall, Jayke Cox, LeeSun, Holly Carter and Nigel Massey, plus a reading of the Tony Harrison poem V by Helen Robinson. You can find a selection of these great artists to listen to over on Leeds Playlist.

Entertainment continues in he Arena with belly dancing, Taekwondo and Karate displays, Whinthorpe Whirlers majorettes and Dynamite cheerleaders. Plus there will be a Jubilee Juggler, a Queen stiltwalker and a chance to learn circus skills with the Rapide Brothers.You can even help build a greenhouse out of plastic bottles.

Younger people can get stuck into arts and crafts, Breeze inflatables and sports activities. Meanwhile there will be over 80 stalls to browse in the Bazaar – food, games, tombolas, information, plants and so much more.

Our Chair, Cllr Angla Gabriel said “The Beeston Festival is a great fun family day out which kicks-off lots of exciting events throughout the summer in Cross Flatts Park.”

“This year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever, and I hope as many people as possible from the local area, and indeed all over the city, will come along on Saturday.

“There will be lots of fun activities with something for everyone to enjoy, and the festival will also be a great opportunity for people to find out what a fabulous place Beeston is, and how much the area and its people have to offer.”

The fun starts at 12:00 noon on Saturday – come and join us!