Cultural groups get on board for carnival fun
Cultural groups from across the town are getting creative as they prepare for this year’s Darlington Community Carnival.
All Aboard the Carnival Express on Saturday 28 June is marking the bicentenary of the first steam hauled passenger railway by celebrating connections between Darlington’s rich and diverse communities.
Empower Together, a newly formed Bangladeshi cultural organisation promoting community cohesion, has been working with artist Jilly Johnson to create a miners’ gala-style banner to celebrate members of the group’s cultural links to the railways.
The banner will be unveiled in a ceremony at Willow Road Community Centre on Saturday 21 June before being used at the group’s Eid Festival in St. Augustine’s church hall on Sunday 22 June. On carnival day it will be proudly displayed when members of Empower Together don traditional Bangladeshi dress for the annual parade.
In July, the cultural group will also be taking a train from Hopetown Darlington to Bishop Auckland, to visit the Auckland Project’s Faith Museum.
Heather Woodley, community and parade coordinator for Darlington Carnival said: “Inspired by the early 20th Century railway carnivals, which brought together all sections of the local community, and in recognition of the impact of the railways in connecting people’s lives, this year we have been engaging groups in carnival arts who have not previously been involved with the carnival.
“Thanks to support from the S&DR 26 miles Community Grants Scheme and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, local community artists have worked with various groups to create carnival banners and large-scale props to be showcased in the carnival parade. We can’t wait to see everyone come together as one community.”
Mohammad Mahmud from Empower Together said: "Empower Together Darlington is proud to stand with the Darlington Carnival — a celebration of culture, unity, and opportunity. By uplifting the Bangladeshi and wider ethnic minority communities, we’re building bridges that bring everyone closer to the heart of society."
The carnival fun starts at 9.45am in the Market Place and at Pease Monument with performances by local community groups, then at 11.30am the railway-themed procession will head through the town to Stanhope Park.
There will be local charity stalls, children’s rides, family craft and sports activities, live music and refreshments at the park from 11am