Final preparations are taking place ahead of the return of Northern Ireland’s largest cultural diversity day, Belfast Mela Day, this weekend.
This year the 16 th Belfast Mela Festival is taking place over eight days after a break of two years due to the pandemic.
The celebrations to date have included a carnival procession, world food market, silk road supper club and tea walking tours, culminating in the festival finale this Sunday, August 28 in Botanic Gardens.
Read more: Spectacular Belfast City Centre parade launches this year's Mela Festival
Hundreds of artists and up to 60,000 attendees were expected to attend events over the eight days.
This year’s Mela Festival, sponsored by Sensata Technologies, kicked off with a spectacular Mela Carnival through the streets of Belfast last weekend.
It featured more than 40 cultural groups with spectacular new carnival floats including a 4.6m high Rooster, which is a symbol of Polish culture.
That was followed by daily Mela Plus events across Belfast, leading up to the annual Mela Day extravaganza in the Botanic Gardens on Sunday.
Belfast Mela Day is t he city's annual celebration of global cultures with thousands of visitors expected to visit Botanic Gardens from 12noon to 6pm for the big Mela Finale, hosted by U105’s Carolyn Stewart and UTV’s Marc Mallet.
The mega global cultural extravaganza features a jam-packed programme of music, dance, food and art over six hours.
Key highlights throughout Mela Day include:
12.30: Opening procession by Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Michelle Kelly
Kick off the Mela with an amazing procession through the park with drum-believable beats, global dance and spectacular carnival creations.
12.45: Deputy Lord Mayor address on World Stage
12:50: Belfast Community Gospel Choir
13.25: Boom Strutt Brass Band
A dramatic feast of edgy horns & funky drums carry on the deepest of all New Orleans traditions.
14:00: Afrikan Warriors
Direct from the dusty streets of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, join the Afrikan Warriors for East African acrobatics, rope-skipping, tumbling, limbo, human pyramids and dance.
14.25: The Mela Foodies…world food tent demonstration
Join the Mela Foodies at our taste the world tent for a chance to learn about how to make authentic Indian street food at home.
14.40: N’famady Kouyate
A fusion of Mandingue African with western jazz, pop, indie, and funk influences provided by an ever-evolving collective of musicians.
15:00 Light Years Ahead
Weaving together Irish mythology and the elemental wonder of nature found in Indian storytelling assemble at the Palm House for a magical, immersive theatre adventure.
15:30: Chinatown
Explore the delights of China from traditional arts and crafts, street performances and food sampling presented by members of the local Chinese community.
15.45: The Faerie Forest
Journey with us into the secret forest at Botanic Gardens and help us find the fairies living in the park.
16:00 Bangra Beats with Eternal Taal
Stop by the main stage and get your dancing shoes ready with over an hour of the best Bhangra and Bollywood dance and music.
17.45: Bollywood finale with South Asian Dance Academy
Be amazed with this year’s spectacular Mela finale as the South Asian Dance Academy close the event with energetic fusion of Bollywood dance.
Ahead of the event, Belfast Mela founder Nisha Tandon said: "We are delighted to welcome you all back to Mela after a two year break due to the pandemic.
"Sunday is the spectacular finale of our new eight day Mela programme across Belfast.
"Many communities have made Belfast their home and it has never been more important that we embrace the individuality and cultural heritage of each citizen and find strength in our diversity.
"I wish you all a wonderful afternoon and encourage to learn, share, talk and celebrate everything that is good about our city and its people."
Belfast's Lord Mayor Councillor Tina Black added: "I am thrilled that the amazing diversity of colours, sounds and tastes of Belfast Mela is returning to our beautiful Botanic Gardens. It will be the perfect afternoon to round off the summer.
"A warm welcome to the 16th annual Belfast Mela where food, music, dance, carnival, circus, visual arts, fashion and family fun from over 30 nations across the globe awaits you.
"Join together with tens of thousands of others in a fantastic shared celebration of ethnic culture and creativity for all the family."
Mayor Black added: "We’re very proud supporters of the Belfast Mela’s organisers ArtsEkta because they do so much to unite our communities in celebration.
"We congratulate Nisha, her team and all the ArtsEkta partners for their new eight day Mela programme – and hope that everyone attending has a really wonderful time."
Those planning to attend the Mela Day must be book their tickets in advance online. Tickets cost £8 adults, £6 concession (children aged between 5 - 15 and the over 60s) £16 family (2 adults and 2 children under 16). Children under 5 go free. Mela Plus events price varies.
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