- Second annual Kaleidoscope of Dreams celebrated unity, diversity and community in Tamworth
- Successful festival was the culmination of months of work by local schools working in partnership with Tamworth Borough Council
- Event included performances from hundreds of children, alongside colour run, stalls, games, animals, and walkabout entertainers
Thousands of people filled Tamworth Castle Grounds on Saturday, July 4, as part of an amazing celebration of community and togetherness organised by Tamworth Borough Council in partnership with local schools.
The second annual Kaleidoscope of Dreams Festival saw hundreds of the town’s schoolchildren taking to the stage to perform songs, dances, cheerleading and live music inspired by this year’s festival theme of ‘Better Together’.
Youngsters from local primary schools entertained the crowds with singing and dancing, interspersed by performances from the band, choir and dance troupes from Landau Forte Academy QEMs.
Alongside stage performances, the free-to-attend event also included community games, animals, walkabout entertainers, face painting and balloon modelling and a variety of stalls from voluntary sector groups.
The festivities were kicked off with a spectacular burst of colour as families enjoyed a Rainbow Fun Run around the main field in the Castle Grounds, with bright powder paints filling the air (and clothes!) of people of all ages.
The kaleidoscope continued throughout the day from the bunting overhead to the beautiful artwork which adorned the grounds and the bandstand. Children had spent weeks creating posters, shields and strips of bunting depicting why they think communities are better when we all work together.
A fantastic day was rounded off with a moving performance by all the schools coming together on stage to sing four special songs, including the original piece ‘Better Together’ which was written especially for the event by Flax Hill Junior Academy music teacher, Charlotte Walters.
Tamworth Borough Council has been preparing for the event for many months, together with Maria Hamblin, Chief Executive Officer for Fierté Multi-Academy Trust who worked closely with the schools to co-ordinate the performances and artwork displays.
Mrs Hamblin said: “The festival was a fantastic achievement and a truly memorable day for everyone involved. The children were absolutely amazing and really did themselves, their families, their schools and the town proud.
“They worked so hard and were incredibly excited to perform on stage. It was wonderful to see so many people out supporting them and I know they will remember this experience for years to come.
“The amount of planning, organisation, problem-solving and sheer hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make this happen is often unseen, but does not go unnoticed. It was truly a privilege to team up with such a dedicated, talented and committed group of people.”
Kaleidoscope of Dreams is one of many initiatives funded by a £600,000 grant from the government’s Community Recovery Fund. It is part of the wider We Are Tamworth strategy which aims to build better communities where people feel more connected and included, with a greater sense of pride and belonging.
Councillor Andrew Wells, portfolio holder for cooperative council, community partnerships and antisocial behaviour, said: “Kaleidoscope of Dreams is about showing what can happen when people from different communities all come together to create something special. Schools from across the town have all been working towards the same goal for many months, and the result on Saturday was truly amazing.
“Thousands of people joined us in the Castle Grounds to celebrate that sense of community and pride in Tamworth, and it was a wonderful, moving and enjoyable day. It wouldn’t have been possible without all the teachers, parents, volunteers and Tamworth Borough Council teams who worked so hard to make this happen, and our thanks go to all of them. It just shows that we really are ‘Better Together’.”