Ref: tn_8806
Date: 25th July 2006

Wigan One World – Wigan Gets Ready to Party as One

Media Call: Press are invited to attend the Wigan One World Festival on Sunday 6th August in Mesnes Park, Wigan from 12pm to 5pm. Contact Chris Dunbar on 01942 486937.

This summer, Wigan is warming up for a special free party in the park that celebrates the town’s diversity and brings a multitude of vibrant cultures together in one place. Mesnes Park, in the heart of Wigan town centre, will host the Wigan One World (WOW) Festival on Sunday 6th August in what is promising to be a memorable, fun-packed family party in the sun.

The WOW Festival, organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT), is a celebration of local and regional diversity and showcases the talent of local performers and remarkable international dancers and musicians from across the globe. Eighteen countries, will be represented and the park will be awash with a variety of music and dance ranging from gospel, hip-hop and latin to Scottish and traditional choir.

WLCT’s Arts and Festivals team are hoping to build on the success of last year’s event which saw 5,000 people party in the park. Chris Wyatt, WLCT’s Arts and Festivals Manager, says, “The WOW Festival has a great spirit and is accessible for everyone, the whole event is geared up for family fun. Mesnes really comes alive during the WOW Festival. It is a spectacular, fun day and is a unique celebration of one world in one park that come rain or shine will be enjoyed by everyone who attends.”

Local performers will mingle with artists from the Caribbean, Africa and Europe in over 24 live performances. There will also be sporting activities to enjoy, in conjunction with the Kick Racism out of Football campaign and rugby’s RESPECT campaign. WOW will also feature a pet show and a children’s Punch and Judy. One of the festival’s traditional highlights, the colourful WOW Carnival Parade will circle the park at 3pm.

Chris continues, “There is obviously a very important message behind the event. We hope to show that for all the problems we have both locally and across the world, different cultures and races can come together and unite in one place and have a great time together. This is a chance for people to come along and enjoy a picnic, have a dance, get involved in the carnival parade or even just to chill out and take in the scenery. It’s unique and it’s for everyone.”

The WOW Festival takes place in Mesnes Park, Wigan, on Sunday 6th August. Activities and performances start at 12pm and run through until 5pm. All events are free to enjoy and families are welcome. All visitors to the WOW Festival should note that the Wigan town centre alcohol ban also applies in Mesnes Park. For further information see www.wlct.org or contact WLCT’s festivals team on 01942 486929.

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NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org. WOW Festival images from 2005 are available on request.

Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over 300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See www.wlct.org.

Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s vision to ensure that people across the Wigan Borough have the opportunity to become more physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good citizenship.

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Image: WOW Festival

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