Thousands of Tunbridge Wells residents and visitors to the town attended the Mela in Calverley Grounds on Sunday 18 July. The event was organised by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Cohesion Plus, and was supported by the Kent and Sussex Courier and BBC Radio Kent, with the help of the Mela Steering Group. The Mela was designed to bring together the communities of Tunbridge Wells through the mediums of music, food and dance.

During the first part of the day, visitors were treated to...

On Wednesday 7 July, over 500 children from 9 local primary schools took part in the Tunbridge Wells Schools Mela Schools Parade to officially launch the Mela celebrations. Carrying art pieces that represent diversity and a range of cultures, the children were led by Bloco Fogo the popular Samba Group, Uzambezi African Drummers and Dhol Drummers from Cultural Beats all of whom are Kent based artists.

The art pieces that were carried in the parade had been created by the children during...

Gravesend town centre was brought to a standstill on Friday evening as over 600 schools children, teachers, parents and members of the public were involved in the Festival of Light parade in the second Gravesham Festival of Light parade. The project involved work with 13 schools from Gravesham in the build up. The schools worked with renowned arts company Samesky. In total over 450 young pupils benefited from arts workshops. The children made lanterns and torches which they carried in the parade.

The...

This year’s Maidstone Mela is set to be the biggest yet with a weekend of festivities planned for all the family.

The Mela, which means gathering, has attracted more than 35,000 people since it began in 2003 and this year is expected to be no different as it expands for the first time into a two-day event.

On Saturday, September 12 at Mote Park from 6pm to 9pm crowds will be treated to stage performances from Bhangra singer Jassi Sidhu and Queen Tribute act Mercury. There will...

The first ever Medway Mela took place on Saturday October 25 at the Black Lion Leisure Centre in Mill Road Gillingham. The Mela which was a free event was organised by the Medway Gurdwara Council with the support of Cohesion Plus and was funded largely by Awards for All.

Mela’s originate from the Indian Subcontinent and are a celebration of music, food and dance.  Mela’s take place all over the UK, and this was the...