This weekend’s Culture Bazaar in Carlisle will feature activities, performances, food and dance to bring together the many communities that make up the city.
The first Culture Bazaar took place in Carlisle 18 years ago. This year’s theme is a City United and Saj Ghafoor OBE, founder of organisers Multicultural Cumbria, said that was the essence of what Culture Bazaar was about.
She said: “Culture Bazaar is about celebrating all the different cultural diversity that we have here. And the best way to do it is through food, music, dance, and things that can cross the language barrier.
“We’ve had people who are neighbours who didn’t know how to even say hello to each other or ask anything because they thought they might offend. And I think Culture Bazaar is the place where people talk to each other and feel comfortable with each other.
“Coming together is really, really important because that changes people’s perspectives and understanding. And it gives people the chance to find out more and be curious without worrying too much in case they say the wrong thing.”
Culture Bazaar, at Richard Rose Central Academy on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4, features Becky Fisher of Happy Mums Foundation, dhol drumming and a Bhangra dance workshop by Davinder Singh of Punjabi Roots Academy, Trails of Tales publishers and authors Richard O’Neill and Michelle Russell, line and Scottish dancing, food from MK Spice Kitchen and Smash Shack, and more.
Previous years have seen around 50 different nationalities attend the event.
Saj said the need to show the positive side of the city was crucial after last year saw distressing events including a racist incident involving a schoolboy and right-wing demonstrations against refugees.
“I haven’t seen that sort of fear in decades,” she said. “It’s important to show that while we might have some people that can be aggressive, can be violent, can be racist, the majority aren’t.
“That’s what Culture Bazaar is about. It’s saying there’s good in the world, not just the negative. If we can, for a couple of days, just give that bit of joy, happiness, friendship, a sense of belonging, that is really powerful, and that’s really important to show that our communities are united.”
Culture Bazaar takes place at Richard Rose Central Academy, Lismore Place, Carlisle, between noon and 5.30pm on Saturday May 3 and Sunday May 4.
More details are available at https://multiculturalcumbria.org.uk/upcoming-events/culture-bazaar-2025
