The 6th annual Peace in the Park festival, one of Sheffield’s most inclusive festivals, took place at The Ponderosa Park in Sheffield on 14th June, and is considered to have been the best yet! The Ponderosa (aka Crookesmoor East Recreation Ground) – is a beautifully landscaped venue in the Netherthorpe/Upperthorpe area.

The festival started as a positive peace protest in 2003, at Devonshire Green, and has been moving and growing ever since. Support for the festival has continued to grow, with more and more volunteers lending their skills and getting involved, and more people attending year upon year.

There was an explosion of musical styles from Sheffield and beyond, brought to festival-goers from the live stage, open mic tent, and dance tent, including world music, reggae, dub and dubstep, hip-hop, Hi-life, jazz, funk, acoustic and much more besides, plus cabaret, magic and other showcases from the Electric Carousel Circus area and even a special tea tent playing old classics!

The kids’ area, offering various workshops and activities, was chock full of kids having a marvellous time all day, and there was a range of healers and alternative therapists offering their skills, stalls selling their weird and wonderful goods, international food, campaign stalls and art aplenty. There was also a very reasonably priced bar!

Money raised from the event will go to local charities Ben’s Centre (A charity offering help and support for Sheffield’s street drinkers  http://benscentre.wordpress.com/ ) and Art in the Park (providing creative workshops for young people in Sheffield’s great outdoors  http://www.artinthepark.org.uk/ ). Money was also raised for the Chernobyl Children Lifeline (supporting child victims of the Chernobyl disaster  http://www.chernobylchildlifeline.org/ ). Previous good causes have included ASSIST (refugee aid), Stepping Stones (education and support in the Niger Delta) and many others through the years.

Peace in the Park is a FREE festival, which aims to promote peace and understanding through artistic, musical and vocal expression, bringing together communities to deliver a message of peace through creative action.

Peace in the Park relies on volunteers and donations to make this event happen so if you feel you could help in future years, please contact  peaceintheparkfestival@googlemail.com.

Website:  http://www.peaceinthepark.org.uk/