Newington Lights Festival
incase you missed it
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incase you missed it 〰️
Film produced by Santiago- 42 South Studio LTD
“The whole event has been amazing. The parade, bands, groups, children need to be congratulated along with the organisers. Superb fireworks to end too; not so small and certainly to rival the coastal displays. Well done everyone.”
“All the family enjoyed themselves thank you to all that organised, had really amazing Time xxx”
Full Photo gallery by beth roo Photography
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Full Photo gallery by beth roo Photography 〰️
“It was amazing. We went to the lantern parade in town last year and there was no where near as many people there. It was good to see. ”
About Cohesion Plus
Cohesion Plus is a diverse-led arts organisation based in Gravesham, Kent who organise events around Kent with the aim of connecting communities through the arts, creating shared experiences with the intention of celebrating the diversity of Kent and promoting cohesion and understanding.
Festivals and events produced by Cohesion Plus range from Lunar New Year to Saint Georges Day to Mela in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells to lantern parades across North and West Kent. All of the events and activity at their heart are about celebrating the local community and what unites us as residents of Kent rather than what divides us. We focus much of our work in areas which have traditionally had low levels of engagement with the arts.
https://www.cohesionplus.com/
About Future Foundry
Future Foundry is a social enterprise to help young people establish or grow sustainable businesses and events. Future Foundry projects bring young people together within their communities creating connections and highlighting pathways to success. They promote the creative industries and encourage other people to be inspired by and make a local impact. Young people can access training, resources & cultural events throughout the year. Creative people forging futures.
https://futurefoundry.org.uk
Newington light up the streets.
Newington residents lit up the streets at our very first Newington Lights Festival on 20th October 23.
The event was made possible with funding from Arts Council England and Ramsgate Town Council.
Newington Big Local, Starlings support CIC & aim4 Partnerships CIC Collaborated with Cohesion Plus and Future foundry to host Newingtons first festival of light.
(Beth Roo Photography)
In the lead up to the festival hundreds of children took part in lantern making workshops hosted by Future Foundry at Ramsgate Arts Primary School, Newington Community Primary School and Newingtons Chill Club. Aswell as taking part in Drumming workshops hosted by Cohesion Plus where the children and young people learnt African songs, Djembe drumming and Bhangra percussion.
Local residents also took part in lantern making workshops at Newington Community Centre and Copperfields residential complex.
On the evening of the event residents gathered at Newington Community Centre at 5pm to have lights inserted in to their lanterns by Future Foundry. Whilst enjoying entertainment from DDFK brass band, Cohesion Plus Folkin Fusion, Uzembezi, The Native Oysters and Samba Ya Wantsum and stilt walkers.
Hotdogs were available to buy for £1 and were served by our Community Chef Mike and his volunteer helpers Dolunay and Orbit’s Rosalie.
Local resident Hayley Philpott joined us in doing some facepainting on some of our volunteers and children.
Local resident and Newington Big Local Chair, Catherine, volunteered to lead the procession in her hearse and went all out in decorating it with lights and day of the dead decor, as well dressing for the occasion.
We were also joined by Ramsgate Town Mayor, Cllr Patricia Moore, Deputy Lieutenantof Kent Paul Auston and Kent County Councillor, Cllr Gary Cooke. All who took part in the parade following the hearse in the procession.
At 6pm hundreds of locals gathered in the street with their lanterns to proceed in the procession of lantern parade. The lantern parade got well underway as residents were led by the hearse outside the community centre onto Melbourne Avenue. The procession danced along past Copperfields Residential Complex where the residents gathered at the gates to watch the streets be lit and to see the parade.
The procession then went around the roundabout on to Bush Avenue where residents came out of there homes to watch and some even jojning the parade on the way.
The parade ended at Ramsgate Arts Primary School where everyone enjoyed a spectacular Firework display.
The whole evening was spectactular and exceeded all our expectations. It was amazing to see our residents come together and get involved bringing the Newington community spirit to life.
We would like to Thank everyone that got involved from the organisations, schools, entertainers, bands, volunteers, all the residents and locals who made this event truly spectacular.
Thank you to Arts Council England and Ramsgate Town Council.
