Oswestry CultureFest brings music and dancing to the town

Free music and dance performances from different cultures entertained visitors on Saturday.

Running alongside the Shropshire Produce Market, CultureFest activities were focused on Bailey Head, Bailey Street, Cross Street and at the Cross and Festival Square.

It included Klezmer music by the Klezmonauts, Bhangra dance by Nachda Sansaar, the Oswestry Street Band and Bulgarian music and dance.

There were also other pop-up performances of music, poetry and readings throughout the day.

Other attractions include free tasters of food from different cultures, and free henna tattoos on Bailey Head.

A host of information stalls were run by local groups and organisations celebrating Oswestry’s vibrant and diverse communities.

The event was organised by Fairness, Respect, Equality Shropshire (FRESh) Ltd, Shropshire Council’s Community Enablement team, Oswestry Town Council, the Hermon Chapel Centre, the Jools Payne Partnership, Oswestry Equality Group, Disability Oswestry and Oswestry Welcomes Refugees.

One of the organisers Jools Payne, who took part in the dancing, said: "It's been absolutely brilliant.

"There's been a fantastic vibe in Oswestry.

"There were lots of crowds in the streets. People have been joining in with the dancing. It was like a festival atmosphere.

"The town has been as busy as you would expect to see it on Oswestry food festival day and that's always Oswestry's busiest day. I'm absolutely chuffed to bits.

"This is the first CultureFest but there is a huge appetite for another one."

The event also helped to boost trade in the town.

Tom Jones is the owner of the Liar Liar cafe in Oswestry.

He said: "It's brought a really nice atmosphere to the town. "It's brought extra trade. It would be great to have this event happen again.

"It's nice it was so well received."