Newcastle Mela to host music, dance and food over August Bank Holiday weekend

Crowds of around 40,000 visitors are expected to turn out for the return of Newcastle Mela this August which will be bringing three days of music, dance, drumming and circus acts plus family activities to the city.

The huge multi-cultural celebration has been an annual feature of the calendar now over the past 25 years and this year's festival will begin on August 26 with a Mela in the City - featuring all-day performances and activities around Grey's Monument - before the big Bank Holiday event takes place in Exhibition Park from August 27-28. The celebration of Pakistani, Bengali, Indian and other South Asian cultures is free and always a real family affair.

Everyone is welcome and the Mela really does promise something for all, with fairground attractions and activities for young ones and a range of arts and crafts, stalls and food. The park site will include a stage for singers and musicians - international performers among them - while there will entertainment too inside tents, along with the likes of stalls offering henna hand tattoos.

Read more: Masala Festival to return with in July with events ranging from Bollywood dance to a Mini Mela

Food is always a huge attraction at the festival and will include vegetarian and meat curries; biryanis, samosas and grills as well as sweet treats such as kulfi ice cream and panipuri, a snack which is one of the most common street foods in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Besides the range of outlets for food, there will be stalls selling clothes - from sarees and slippers to dresses and T-shirts - as well as gifts, jewellery and the likes of dream catchers and incense sticks.

Acts, which will include performances by local community groups, will feature both traditional and contemporary styles, offering a broad cultural range. Past festivals have covered Punjabi and bhangra as well as pop and folk music. The Mela is organised by voluntary organisation NAAM (Newcastle Asian Arts and Music). For upcoming details of its full programme keep an eye out on its website here.

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