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Festival puts positivity back into city - director

Tom Jackson & Louise Parry
BBC News, Peterborough
Natalie Malcolm/BBC Four people on stilts in rainbow coloured circus costumes stand and hold their arms up, while three BBC reporters wearing purple T-shirts stand in front of them. They are in a field with a large blue marquee behind them.Natalie Malcolm/BBC
The Nene Park Trust organised the colourful event at Ferry Meadows

Music, culture and diversity have been celebrated this weekend as a festival "puts positivity" back into a city, according to the director of an arts organisation.

The free two-day event, Peterborough Celebrates, drew large crowds to Ferry Meadows on Saturday with this year's theme in support of nature.

Ruth Campbell, director of the arts group Metal, said: "Sometimes Peterborough gets a bad reputation but what this festival is about celebrating Peterborough."

Visitors have been able to enjoy performances ranging from hip hop to circus to traditional Asian dance acts.

"Peterborough festival is phenomenal for what it does for community engagement – it's a fun time, make sure you come down," said Shaun Patterson of local organisation Culture Community.

"It's really diverse, with varied acts – and it showcases homegrown talents.

"There's a really good crowd: people of all ages, from babies to people in their 80s. I would say Peterborough is being represented in its best format today.

"There is something for everyone," said host and BBC presenter Amir Suleman.

Tom Jackson/BBC Shaun smiles at the camera, standing inside a dome tent filled with people sitting around behind him. Colourful decorations hang from the sides. He has a cropped goatee beard and wears a grey T-shirt with the word CULTURE in bright colours.Tom Jackson/BBC
Shaun is encouraging people to join in with Sunday's event and the upcoming carnival in August

Mr Patterson said it had been "amazing seeing kids engage in the arts and watch their creativity come out" as people made masks and other arts and crafts.

Culture Community, which runs black history sessions in the city, was one of many local organisations taking part.

Mr Patterson said the organisation was looking ahead to a similar event in August.

"It is the first time in over 40 years that we will have had a carnival in Peterborough. It means so much to the community - the Caribbean community here is longstanding.

"A lot of it ties in with my parents' and grandparents' age, so I'm looking forward to having that for my children and future generations to come," he said.

Tom Jackson/BBC Five people wearing black clothes and bright carnivalesque butterfly wings perform a dance on the grass in Nene Park. They wear coloured goggles to look like bug eyes.Tom Jackson/BBC
A "flutter of butterflies" is this year's theme, in celebration of nature

Ms Campbell said the group had been "looking to uncover positive stories about Peterborough, hidden stories" during the festival.

"People can draw or write them on a postcard and add them to the installation, to celebrate these amazing stories."

Natalie Malcolm/BBC Crowds gather round a small outdoor stage with bamboo poles, and two performers doing something on the stage. It is in a park with trees on the far side, and is a sunny day. Small kiosks and tents line the other side of the stage.Natalie Malcolm/BBC
Professional acrobats performed along with local students and community groups

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