Central St Leonards played host to some of the world's best music, entertainment and food at the first St Leonards Festival on July 8.
The community festival was an indisputable success, with more than 7,000 revellers descending on Central St Leonards. Entertainment included carnival drumming, Bollywood dance and Argentine tango displays. To complete the eclectic mix, local youth and community groups showcased their best talents and The Selecter did not disappoint with their unique music style. The festival climaxed with a twilight performance by the Heliosphere, a helium filled balloon from which an aerialist performs balletic dance above the crowd.
The Gensing and Central St Leonards Community Forum, with support from the council and a range of other local organisations and businesses commissioned Mandy Curtis and her local events company Thirty Six Hours to organise the festival.
Kings Road underwent a dramatic transformation into a bustling open market, with a diverse range of stalls offering produce from around the world. Regular Kings Road traders took advantage of the extra business and laid on special displays. They were joined by festival traders from across the country, selling everything from local apple juice to Fair Trade organic clothing.
Brave skaters amazed the crowds with their tricks and turns on a half-pipe skate ramp at Warrior Square Gardens. Water lovers took to canoes in the sea and others enjoyed less risky sports like volleyball and running with local Olympic athlete Sean Baldock. Children's activities like drumming, storytelling and a circus skills workshop were housed in a special marquee.
Council leader Peter Pragnell said:
"Central St Leonards provided a brilliant backdrop for this first festival. The event highlighted the significant physical and social improvements that have already taken place in the area, and showed it in its best light. This inaugural festival was such a great success; it was a pleasure to see so many people coming together to enjoy this eclectic mix of global food, entertainment and goods. I congratulate the organisers and all those involved who worked in partnership to make the festival such a success".
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This page last updated: 12/09/2006