A RIO CARNIVAL of colour, music and sport has arrived at Barnes Park.
Saturday is the finale of the three day ‘Road to Rio’ community celebratory event funded by the West Area Committee, with everyone invited along 10am – 5pm.
The free-family event is based around the themes of world sport and culture promoting local health and well-being with the 2016 Olympics in Rio fast approaching.
Officially opened on Thursday with the first two days of the event visited by hundreds of children from local schools, everyone is invited to join with the free Family Fun Day tomorrow ( Saturday 2 July).
There is a carousel of sporting and craft activities for everyone to try their hand at with stilt walkers in costume, live music and theatre and food from around the world among the attractions reflecting the cultural mixture of the
Cllr Gibson said: “After the success of our first community event last year celebrating our shared heritage and cultural future, we chose the ‘Road to Rio’ as our theme this year to look toward getting fitter and healthier together as a community.
“There is something for everyone from the chance to try out a new sports like four-way volleyball and archery to sampling cuisine and culture from around the world.
“Befitting the theme we hope that the event will also have a lasting sporting legacy, promoting the many sporting and leisure opportunities provided across the city and encouraging more people to get involved and support them.”
Entry to the event is though a replica ‘tardis’ made by the Pallion based ‘Learning Curve’ skills training company, with visitors then invited to take part in a huge range of events and activities throughout the park including a fairground.
Attractions include;
– multi-sports arena
– Sunderland Empire ‘Creative Carnival’ marquee
– climbing wall
– archery
– live music from the bandstand and strolling musicians
– sports / crafts
– children’s entertainment
– international cuisine and home-cooking in the food court and stalls
– funfair and fairground attractions (charges apply for fairground rides)
– Advice and information from local community groups and voluntary organisations on getting involved with sport, leisure, physical and social activities
Headteacher at Broadway Junior School, Margarita Acklam said: ”We went to last year’s event which was wonderful and exceeded all expectations, and hoping that the ‘Road to Rio’ this year will be even better.
“It was clear last year that a lot of hard work and innovative planning goes into staging these community celebrations, and to have an opportunity like this on the doorstep is fantastic for the children and a great way of showcasing Barnes Park.”
Melynda Trenholm from Pallion and Pennywell based Mint Management added: “At the Road to Rio event we will be Brazilian themed bright and vibrant interactive stilt performers. We will meet and greet, as people arrive, and later mix and mingle for photo opportunities.
“As a Sunderland based company we are very much looking forward to be supporting such a wonderful family event in our city.”