First-time festival is a sunny success (From Penarth Times)

First-time festival is a sunny success

IT WAS fun, fun, fun all the way for hundreds of Penarth children who attended the first-ever Belle Vue Festival.

Youngsters from all over town came to the event from August 21 until September 1 at Belle Vue Park, which included workshops, a fun day and carnival parade.

The event was hailed as a success by organisers Penarth Community Arts Project.

Chairman Ruth Fielding, said: "The Belle Vue Festival was a huge success. Lots of people got involved in our workshops, with many taking part in all of the activities.

"People learned songs, dances and drum rhythms. They made their own carnival costumes and then they paraded and performed on the fun day in the park."

The event included workshops in dance, drama, circus skills, puppet show construction, painting and printing.

On the fun day, youngsters took part in an energetic carnival parade, watched by parents and passers-by.

Now organisers hope to make it an annual event and are urging all involved to take part again.

Ruth said: "It was truly stunning and I'm so proud of everybody who took part. For many this was a completely new experience and they took to it brilliantly. I'd like this festival to be an annual event, so watch out for us next summer."

It was sponsored by The National Lottery Arts for All (Welsh Arts Council), Vale of Glamorgan Council, and Parks Department, Penarth Town Council, and businesses including Lloyds TSB Foundation Abbey National and Atlantic Foundation.