'Unique' festival celebrating Peterborough returns

Peterborough Celebrates Festival is expected to attract about 20,000 visitors

A festival that celebrates a city, its diversity and "all the reasons we love it" is expected to welcome about 20,000 people, organisers have said.

Peterborough Celebrates is hosting its fourth annual event at Ferry Meadows this weekend with a "full-on" schedule of performances and activities.

It is free to attend and has been funded largely by Nene Park Trust with sponsorships from local businesses, but parking charges apply and donations are being welcomed.

Creative producer Simon Hollingworth said the event was a "unique experience" and the country park would be "buzzing" with activity.

'Amazing party'

Preparations have been under way over the past few days for one of the biggest events in Peterborough.

A silent disco was held on Friday in support of the Sense charity, ahead of the festival kicking off in full on Saturday morning.

Mr Hollingworth said the festival would have four large stages - the Community Stage, Big Top, Hay Bale Stage and Centre Stage - with almost 60 acts performing.

"It is going to be buzzing. Full of colour and full of people with so much going on," he said.

The festival is taking place on 17 and 18 May at Ferry Meadows

The Community Stage line-up will feature performances from local groups such as Lucy's Pop Choir, Bharat Hindu Samaj, Ritu Ranga, Wansford Ukelele Folk and two up-and-coming bands featured by BBC Introducing. There will also be traditional Filipino and Lithuanian dancers.

There will be a variety of other musical and circus acts performing during the weekend, with food and drink on offer from around the world.

Last year, local dancers entertained the crowds, and many acts are due to take part again this weekend

Additionally, there will be fairground attractions and passenger boat rides at Overton Lake, and a chance to take part in climbing, archery, martial arts, rugby, football, and arts and crafts.

Mr Hollingworth added: "On Saturday night we have a Bhangra dance party - East meets West - in the big top led by this Punjabi dance troupe from Bradford.

"It is going to be an amazing party."

Following its success last year, the festival finale on Sunday will be marked with a Hindu Holi celebration, where people can throw coloured paints and streamers.

More than 2,000 paper hearts were created last year in support of the theme 'A Love Letter to Peterborough', but this year the festival is themed around butterflies

"Over the years we have had somewhere around 20,000 people [attend]," said Mr Hollingworth.

"We would hope to get similar numbers this year - you get people from such a range of communities that represent the city.

"It is a unique experience to bring everyone together."

A guide on getting to the festival, what to expect and a festival map and access information, has been put together on Nene Park Trust's website.

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire will be broadcasting live from Peterborough Celebrates Festival on Saturday, from 14:00 until 16:00 BST.