Final preparations are under way for a major community festival this weekend, celebrating the rich tapestry of different cultures living and working in Telford &Wrekin.

Organisers of Telford & Wrekin CultureFest are putting the finishing touches to the free event, being held tomorrow from 10.45am onwards in the town park and which will feature belly dancing and a steel band.

The event is set to transform Telford Town Park into a rich, vibrant and colourful celebration of Telford’s international connections.

Khalila Fusion Belly Dancing and Telford Caribbean Sunshine Steel Band are among the attractions set to dazzle crowds while sporty types can take part in a “let’s get physical fun run”.

Workshop

Visitors will also have the chance to join in a host of activities including street sports and bouncy boxing.

Other highlights will include a graffiti arts and video workshop that will be run by artists from the Connexions for youth project.

Extreme sports fans can watch and learn by seeing BMX, inline and skateboard displays from Team Extreme then taking advantage of free coaching.

Councillor Denis Allen, cabinet member for community services said: “We hope that people of all ages will take advantage of this opportunity and I would like to encourage everyone to come along to Telford’s Town Park to enjoy this free event.

“The Telford & Wrekin CultureFest is part of the council’s drive to encourage the public to use and enjoy the parks across the borough and to ensure that a vibrant events programme is delivered for all the community.”

CultureFest culminates with the official handover in Beijing of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to London. A line-up of local sporting heroes and 2012 sporting hopefuls will help raise the London 2012 flag.

By Tom Johannsen