The formal launch of the Maidstone Mela will take place on July 7 between 10.30am and 11.30am.  This will be our biggest launch event to date involving 300 pupils from 6 local schools as well as a range of culturally diverse artists including Bloco Fogo and Cultural Beats.

This has been made possible due to the funding we managed to secure from the Arts Council England.  This follows on from the successful St George’s Day celebrations which we organised in partnership with Maidstone Borough Council.

The schools will be working with our partners the renowned arts company Samesky on visual displays which the schools will showcase during the parade.  The schools involved are St Michael’s CE Junior, Archbishop Courtenay Primary, St Francis Primary, Hollingbourne Primary, Senacre Wood Primary and West Borough.

The launch event parade will start outside Marks and Spencer in Week Street just after 10.30am; it will go down Fremlin Walk, into Earl Street, back up Week Street before finishing at Brenchley Gardens where the acts involved in the parade will perform a short set.

The Mela has gone from strength to strength over the past 7 years and is now one of the biggest culturally diverse festivals in Kent. The Mela celebrates the positive community relations enjoyed in the Borough and is a model event whose success has been recognised at a regional level.

Our Event Partners: Maidstone Borough Council, North West Kent Racial Equality Council, Arts Council England and Samesky.