Can we get a ‘whoop whoop’? Can we get an ‘up The Mead’? Can we get a cup of tea? Join us for the annual Southmead community extravaganza here at the Greenway Centre. Pick and choose the bits you like, and catch up with everyone you know.
Music-wise, we seem to have competing headliners this year. We have the one and only, Southmead’s home grown brothers, Hooper. They’ll serenade us with wonderful renditions of the songs we adore, and accompany with brilliantly played guitars and drums. And, we have the fabulous Greenway Singers. They’ll joyously sing their hearts out to well-known hits, along with kazoos, bells, and whistles! We’ll all have to decide who the real headliners are. Whichever way, both are Southmead groups, with their roots firmly in our community, and made up of well-loved Southmead residents.
And lots of residents will be selling again this year. Last year’s Greenway Market in the Main Hall was a big hit, made up of local entrepreneurs selling crafts, home-made gifts, home-made bakes, bric-a-brac and pre-loved treasures. Come and browse and be surprised – you may find that one little thing you’ve always been looking for!
Food-wise, we’ve got the lot! Café Des Amis Southmead is offering chilli & rice, hot pasties & sausage rolls, coffee and teas, cold drinks, salad boxes, and sweet bites. Southmead Rugby Club will be throwing juicy burgers on the BBQ and their bar will be open. RnB Soul Food will have their usual range of tasty Caribbean dishes to choose from. The funfair will have chips, donuts and Slush Puppies on offer. And of course, where would we be without the super whip ice-creams Guiseppe sells (we think he’s brought his van to every Festival for more than twenty years!).
There’ll be prizes for the best theme outfits this year. The theme is ‘Green’ – and whatever green means to you. It could be a superhero, a colour combo, a foliage collection, or whatever you fancy. The colour green celebrates the launch of a Community Action Plan for Southmead, and in the Conversation Corner zone they would love to hear your thoughts about that, as well as what it’s like to live in Southmead.
Another great zone will be the Bristol Refugee Festival area with entertainment, crafts, performance, and no doubt something tasty to sample. We are delighted that BRF are joining us this year and to Celebrate Sanctuary in Southmead.
In the tea tent there’ll be a place to rest and, perhaps, to enjoy having your face painted! Or why not relax with a seated shoulder massage – sign up in the foyer in Main Reception.
There’s so much more happening so go to our website HERE for the full line up and for all other info.
We want to thank the Southmead Quiz Night for their generous donation to the Festival (see the next news item) and to our local police who will be running bike repair sessions and will be the meeting point for any lost children.
Also, thanks to Avon Fire Rescue, Bristol Rovers, Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Travelling Kitchen, Bristol Beacon, Southmead Churches Together, Friends of Badock’s Wood, Trout in the Trym, MingleBristol, From Bristol with Love for Ukraine, our Labour Councillors, and all our fantastic volunteers and staff for helping to put on this wonderful event.
See you THERE – tomorrow, Saturday 8th July, 11am – 4pm, Greenway Centre, Southmead, BS10 5PY.
CLICK FOR FESTIVAL PROGRAMME HERE
