The Leys Festival, celebrated over the years as an important free event provided by and for the local community, returns this year at Blackbird Leys Park on Sunday 28 July from 12pm-7pm.
Created and planned by over 60 residents and community organisers from The Leys (Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys) alongside a small team from Oxford University’s Cultural Programme, this year’s festival will feature a range of fun activities including a football coaching session for children from members of the newly promoted Oxford United FC coaching staff.
Embracing the theme of ‘One People One Place’, the event will include a Music and Dance stage featuring local talent, a special ‘Speakers Corner’ inviting people to speak or share a poem, and a ‘Memory Garden’ to share stories about people who have made a positive contribution to the Leys.
There will also be a selection of food stalls serving delicious meals throughout the day, cooked by residents showcasing the diverse cultures and heritage of the Leys. There will also be an opportunity to hear the stories behind the recipes and find out how these dishes are made. All dishes will be available for £5 and under.
There will be an opportunity to ‘build bridges’, by joining a team to create decorative structures from recycled materials or simply to add your own personal artistic touch.
Traditional games will also feature, including a tug-of-war, an inclusive rounders tournament, face-painting, roller-skating classes, and craft activities. Organisers have made sure to cater to everyone, with a bouncy castle and soft play area for smaller children and a quieter garden area close to the Bowls Club serving refreshments along with an opportunity for people to learn how to bowl.
Finally, an innovative new painted mural will come to life throughout the day, designed and painted by MES Crew, a collective of local artists and designers, inspired by ideas and suggestions from across the Leys. There is still time for community members to get involved as the festival organisers are also calling out for any donations of scrap fabric to create community bunting and scrap wood, pallets, ladders, bicycle wheels, and wooden chairs for the bridges. Anyone interested in helping or donating, or getting involved as a volunteer on the day, is encouraged to send an email to leyscommunityevent@gmail.com.
The Leys Festival celebrates the ways that residents and local organisations in Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys look after each other and the wider community. The theme of 'One People, One Place' is being used to reflect the flourishing of positive relationships between different generations, and between people of diverse cultures and heritage. This is the first time the event is being supported by the University of Oxford, to collaborate with the community to create and run their own festival and the intention is for this to be a productive and positive partnership.
Millie Khisa, Resident and one of the Producers says:
‘It has been wonderful to see so many people from the Leys and beyond come together week after week all excited about this celebration event.’
Ewa Gluza, one of the organisers for this year’s event, says:
'I have the honour of working at "Gown" - Hertford College, but I live in "Town" (Blackbird Leys). Over the many years since I started living in Blackbird Leys, I have always tried to build bridges between 'Town and Gown' through numerous projects. This year's Leys Festival is a significant step forward in promoting new collaboration between the Leys area community and the University of Oxford. I'm excited about the opportunity to help make a lasting positive impact in our district.
Erica Whyman, Creative Lead for this year’s event, says:
'It has been a privilege to work with so many brilliant residents of the Leys, who have opened my eyes to the rich cultural history and the amazing creative energy of this place. It has been inspiring to see how energetic and dedicated so many people are to serving their community and I hope this Festival is a chance to celebrate that. The University is an important part of making this happen and this event is a great statement of intent.”
Natty Mark, one of the organisers and performers, says:
'Beginning a new chapter in the Leys Community and Oxford University interaction, we invite one and all to the Leys Festival on July 28th.’
Stuart Parsons from Oxford Blackbirds FC says:
‘This is going to be great for the community. Hoping for this to be the start of something great for all of the families on the estate and continues for years to come!’
Prof. Alexander Betts, the Local and Global Engagement Officer at the University of Oxford, said:
“We have really enjoyed working with local residents to support the Leys Festival which reflects our commitment to supporting local people in and around Oxford as well as celebrating the variety of cultural influences within this diverse community. Over the past year, the University has been trying to strengthen our relationships with communities across the Leys, including by partnering with local schools and community organisations. We’re really keen to ensure that this Festival is just the start of a much deeper long-term collaboration.”
For further details, please visit:
https://oxfordculturalprogramme.org.uk/event/the-leys-festival/
