Malayalee dancers

The Malayalee Association Dancers perform at the Indian Summer Mela, Christchurch Park, 2017

Ipswich can be proud of its ‘alternative' festivals and cultural events.

The Mayday Music Day in Alexandra Park is well-known and very popular. Over eight days in early July, Christchurch Park plays host to the biggest one-day music festival in the country: Music in the Park. Following this is the Global Rhythms day with Peppery Productions at its heart, plus two other big stages with performers from all over the world. Barely has a week passed before the Ipswich Summer Mela takes over the area between the Mansion and the Cenotaph. With dance as its central activity, the thundering rhythms of urban/Eastern/crossover music pervade a colourful event fragrant with the spices and flavours of Asian cuisine. Bhangra and bhaji.

Back to Alexandra Park and The One Big Multicultural Festival is at the end of August: rich, eclectic and full of music, crafts, sport, conversation, play and much more.

Swordbalacing dancers were also among those entertaining the crowd at the Indian Summer Mela, Christchurch Park, 2017