Preston is to host three days of celebrating diversity this weekend.
Festivities for the free Star Festival start today and the event is supported by the The Preston & Western Lancashire Racial Equality Council, Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council, Preston BME Forum, Preston and South Ribble Trade Union, UCLan, Preston College, The Love and Etiquette Foundation and a wide range of community groups

The aim is to raise awareness about the insidious effects of racism and highlight the positive influence of diversity of cultures and communities, Preston is organising a Music and Word Festival.

Day One – Community Choir – County Hall - Friday 21 March 2014

Friday 21 March is a School Event, being held in the Council Chamber at County Hall from 11:00am -1:00pm when pupils from Preston Schools will perform songs based on the themes of the Festival

"As part of the overall event the County Council's Young Peoples Service will be bringing together secondary schools from across Preston to participate in a mass choir and show their commitment to community cohesion and creating a safer Preston where racism is not tolerated.

Young people involved in the individual choirs from participating schools will have been rehearsing songs throughout February having agreed a programme to be presented as a Mass Choir in County Hall Preston.

The programme and choice of songs will reflect the key themes of the event and promote their messages of hope for the future and a Preston free of racism. County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson Cabinet Member for Young People will host the event along with invited guests from local community groups and More

Music will offer musical direction support to the school's fantastic music staff.

Day Two – Community Day – Preston Flag Market – Saturday 22 March - 11:00am to 3:00pm

Building on the success of Preston Guild, which showed just how well the people of the City worked together, a wide range of community groups and organisations from the Preston area have joined Preston & Western Lancashire Racial Equality Council, to organise a community day which will take place on the Flag Market
The event will involve a range of exciting stage performances involving song and dance throughout the day and even includes a demonstration from Preston College’s very own student “Harlem Globetrotters” basketball team. There will even be the opportunity to take part in an African drumming workshop and a penalty shootout organised by Preston North End.

There will also be an opportunity to have a FREE cup of tea or coffee and for people to talk about their hopes for the future and even record their thoughts using Preston FM’s ‘Vox Pops’ gazebo.

Preston Young People’s Service will be hosting a book of condolence for Nelson Mandela and there will be an opportunity for everyone to pledge their support to ‘Stand Together Against Racism’.

There will also be numerous gazebos on the day which will involve a wide range of activities and information which will be hosted by a range of organisations. You can also come on board to the Citizenzone to have a FREE lung capacity check by NHS Stop Smoking Service.
 

Day Three – Music Festival – Guild Hall – Sunday 23 March - 1pm - 7pm

Preston has a proud tradition of celebrating the diversity of its population whilst strongly challenging racism and all other forms of oppression.

This was epitomised in the 2012 Guild Year that saw people from all backgrounds come together to commemorate the historical roots and traditions of the Guild and celebrate the changing face of modern Preston, with the Community Procession being one of the highlights of the year-long event.

To raise awareness about the insidious effects of racism and highlight the positive influence of diversity of cultures and communities, Preston is organising a Music

Festival led by Preston & Western Lancashire Racial Equality Council, supported by Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council, UCLan, Preston & South Ribble
Trade Union Council, Preston Black and Minority Ethnic Forum and The Love & Etiquette Foundation to name a few.

Featuring a talented line up of artists that cover Soul, Reggae, Indie, Pop, Ghazal, Tabla, Sitar and Nasheed.

This promises to be a fantastic afternoon promoting the diverse cultures and community through inspirational lyrics and music to suit all.