This Year's Festival
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This year's festival, our third, on 19th and 20th July, was quite simply an enormous success! Even the weather, after a fearful forecast, miraculously held out for us almost throughout, and for the first time we had a team of volunteers to assist in the day to day running of the event, which made a HUGE difference to the smooth running of the whole weekend. They were much appreciated by everyone.
The FOOD stalls - seven of whom were first-timers - were fantastic, with an array of exotic foods to tempt even the most traditional of eaters, and everyone commented on the high standard as well as the amazing range (for which, I have to say, YUMI has now become locally famous!). It's a massive thing to undertake such a task, serving food to so many people in the centre of town, and showing your culture to so many strangers when you're not a professional cook or trader, and their achievement is enormous.
The MUSIC this year took on a very different feel, with much more interaction between musicians and audience...in fact, during both days there was dancing for adults and kids, led by Cuban dance teacher Guillermo Davis 'el lyawo', and a conga procession through Parliament Street, much to the delight of local shoppers! It was also the contrasts during the two day programme that struck a chord with many: YUMI's own community choir, Indian tabla, North European acappella singing, Bollywood dancing, French classics, all linked by a DJ, and the rip roaring beats of Zambula who had everyone dancing away as a fab finale to the whole event. There was something for everyone.
On Saturday evening we were lucky enough to have Omar Puente and his band 'Raices Cubanas' who had everyone happily dancing in the street for nearly an hour longer than programmed. He was simply electric, and what an atmosphere he created...everyone could have gone on and on...
The ACTIVITIES this year were even bigger than ever, with carrom played and heads massaged continuously, long queues for the free henna tattoos, and the beautiful rangoli needing ever more space - these will need more gazebos for them next year as they're so popular, especially with children. The children's workshops were also fantastic, creating colourful faroles for the conga processions, and international nursery songs for even the tiniest of children.
Feedback from the evaluation forms given to those who attended: Over 97% of people thought the food stalls were good or excellent and 80% said they would definitely come to another YUMI event in the future!
York has a fantastically diverse range of peoples living in it, and this festival brought so many people together again. Several people commented on how they have never seen a festival that celebrates so many communities together, and the experience of seeing it through from the tentative first steps is really wonderful to be part of.
There were several requests to be involved in the future, both for food and activities, and also lots of offers for volunteering. This is the way we see the future of the festival developing - more and more people bringing their skills and ideas, and more people sharing roles of leadership. Get in touch with us to let us know if you want to be involved! sasiki@yumiyork.org
And finally, have a look at our photos to see the variety of music, activities and food stalls that were there. Click HERE. Enjoy!
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