News

Events for children and an Old Time Music Hall will open this year's four-day Folkestone Multi-Cultural Festival (June 11 -14). To be staged at venues in and around the town centre, the festival is expected to attract thousands of visitors.

All primary schools in Shepway have been invited to take part in a programme of activity workshops from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm on Thursday, June 11, at the Leas Cliff Hall. Workshops will cover seventeen activities, including storytelling and dance from India, percussion from the Caribbean, gumboot dancing from South Africa and circus skills from West Africa.

During intervals between formal workshops, there will be 'taster' sessions to demonstrate origami, Japanese calligraphy, ethnic face painting, puppet making, beadwork and country dancing. Five hundred schoolchildren are expected to attend.

Entertainment for the older generation will be featured in an Old Time Music Hall, also on June 11 at the Leas Cliff, starting at 7pm. The audience will encouraged to wear appropriate costume.

This year's Multi-Cultural Festival will be the third organised by Folkestone Town Centre Management.

Organiser Barbara Witham said that the aim of the event was to celebrate the many different cultures which contribute to the life and times of Shepway.

"Some parts of the programme are subject to funding and sponsorship but we are grateful for the assistance of Shepway District Council in connection with the activity workshops. The festival will provide its usual feast of lively entertainment and enjoyable experiences for residents and visitors of all ages."