The 15th Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival is set to return to Calverley Grounds on Sunday 25th July between 12.30pm and 6pm. Last taking place in 2019, the event will also see the return of community artists and food traders celebrating music, food and dance from around the world. The Mela is organised in partnership by Cohesion Plus and Kent Equality Cohesion Council supported by Arts Council England and Royal Tunbridge Wells Together.

We will be looking to deliver one of the most exciting Mela’s to date with a fun packed on stage and off stage programme perfect for all the family. The programme boasts a range of culturally diverse artist with an international flavour such as The West Kent Keralites, Phase 5 Steel Band, Uzambezi and Four by Four Kings of Bhangra. We’ll also see the return of the hugely popular Paul Dunton Orchestra and the first time appearance of headliners Midnight Soul Sisters who will be bringing you all the Motown classics.

Off stage activity will include Show Globes ‘Enchanted Flower Garden’, a mobile and interactive life size snow globe complete with a mythical nymph that you can take pictures with. There will also be a mouth-watering selection of food vendors on site to bring you the flavours of far off places. The Forum Bar will also be in attendance with their signature craft beers with Pimms and Prosecco on hand should the weather call for some light refreshments!

Although lockdown restrictions will have been lifted by the 25th everyone attending will be asked to check in to the Track and Trace system, there will also be extra distance placed between food stands to avoid queues and overcrowding, and there will be hand sanitisers in place across the grounds.

Gurvinder Sandher, Artistic Director of Cohesion Plus commented, “We are so pleased to be returning to Calverley Grounds to put on the beloved Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival. We all know how utterly challenging the last 18 months have been for everyone so we couldn’t be more excited to put on a fun day for the family, celebrating the overcoming of challenges and community unity. I am really proud of the artistic programme we have for this year’s Mela both on and off stage. We have designed the layout of the site to maximise social distancing. Our main priority is the safety and wellbeing of our loyal Mela fans as well as new attendees. All in all, the Mela Festival promises to be a great day and a fun way to celebrate the final lifting of lockdown.”