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Warrington Mela returns to the town centre on Sunday, August 31st for a full day of free, family-friendly festivities celebrating culture, identity and community.
This year’s theme is Home, with the programme exploring stories of belonging and shared experience through performance, food and creative activity.
Between 10.30am and 6pm, events will take place across Queens Gardens and Time Square, bringing people together from across the town and beyond.
Following on from the success of the Food and Drink Festival held in Bank Park recently, a street food and artisan market will be a highlight of the festival, offering international cuisine from India, Korea, Hong Kong, Turkey, Greece and more. Handmade crafts and community stalls will also feature, with local partners such as Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, Cheshire Police, Foster4, Warrington Carers Hub, Cadent Gas and many others present to offer information, advice and support.
The day will begin with a colourful procession from Warrington Town Hall to Queens Gardens, led by local performers and community groups, joined by four-metre-tall puppets Dolly and Rocky who were first seen at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London. Throughout the day, the venues will host street theatre, creative workshops and performances from both local talent and touring acts.
"Warrington Mela is one of the most anticipated events in our summer programme. It brings people together from across the borough to celebrate different cultures and communities in a way that feels open, relaxed and welcoming. It's about enjoying music, food, creativity and connection - all in the heart of our town centre"
“The Mela reflects Warrington’s values of respect, inclusion and community pride. It’s an opportunity to honour the contributions of our diverse communities and recognise the strength they bring to the town. Most importantly, it sets an example for future generations, showing that Warrington is a place where everyone belongs and every culture is valued ”
Made possible through funding from Arts Council England.
by Nutkhut
Standing at an incredible four metres tall, Dolly & Rocky are more than just puppets — they’re powerful symbols of creativity, community, and sustainability. Draped in the world’s first sustainable sari fabric made from recycled plastic, they embody Nutkhut’s bold commitment to merging art, fashion, and environmental responsibility.
by Trigger
Catch your breath and enjoy a free, freshly made brew in this heart-warming show by Trigger. Have a well-deserved TEABREAK and as you stir your cup, gently glide through an audio journey of tea and how it’s found itself into our tea pots. Tea leaves have journeyed across continents and centuries to take its place as the great comforter of our time. With tea served from Trigger’s beautifully hand painted tuk tuk, this gentle performance brings an uplifting moment of pause.
An interactive performance for all the family
by Movema
An exciting, thought-provoking & spectacular outdoor dance show inspired by Movema’s experiences of migration & informed by refugee and asylum seeker communities with whom they work.
Audiences will meet futuristic cyborg creatures whose bodies are part aircraft, part bird, part human as they attempt to survive, adapt, work together and ‘Take Flight’ in a post-apocalyptic world.
Warrington Mela is delivered by Warrington Borough Council in partnership with Warrington Ethnic Communities Association (WECA), supported by Culture Warrington, Arts Council England, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Warrington BID. The event aims to bring communities together through shared experiences and open, welcoming public spaces.
Additional funding from the council’s Community Investment Fund (CIF), Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, has been secured to engage with Warrington’s harder-to-reach communities.
These funds will support the creation of artwork and performances by local artists and community members, which will be showcased at the festival, providing a platform for these communities to share their unique cultures with others.
The voice of the town centre brought to you by the businesses of Warrington BID