New dates announced for Middlesbrough Mela
The festival will return on the 7th and 8th of September
Last updated 19th Aug 2024
Organisers of Middlesbrough Mela say they have made the decision to bring back the festival, over the weekend of the 7th and 8th of September.
One of the region's largest celebrations of multiculturalism - the event was forced to postpone due to the recent riots in Middlesbrough, Darlington and Hartlepool, as well as elsewhere around the country.
The team behind it say since then they have been inundated with messages of support, saying it was the right decision to take, but hopes the event could be rescheduled.
A meeting between Mela leaders, the town's MP, Mayor, and Police Chiefs was held, and the decision was made to bring it back over the 7th and 8th of September.
A joint statement from Mela bosses, expressed their gratitude, stating, "We’d like to thank everyone who attended the emergency meeting over the weekend. We were deeply encouraged by the solidarity of all those who recognized the importance of Mela and the need to embed real social cohesion from the top down. We’re confident that with the support of our MP, Mayor, and Police, Middlesbrough Mela will continue to be a beacon of hope and unity for our town and the wider region."
Middlesbrough Mela is widely recognised as the regions flagship multi-cultural event and it exists to promote community cohesion, positive integration and inclusivity in a town that has recently been shaken and recovering from racial tensions and riots.
When asked what Mela means to the town’s mayor, Chris Cooke, said “It’s a really important event and it’s an honour to have it here in Middlesbrough because it really showcases exactly what Middlesbrough is and what it’s all about - unity and celebrating diversity.”
This sentiment was also echoed by both Middlesbrough MP, Andy McDonald who commented that “Everybody in Middlesbrough and across the region really looks forward to Mela because it’s an expression of ourselves, it is a beautiful celebration of diversity,” and the Police Crime Commissioner, Matt Storey, who said “Mela is a fantastic way to highlight the diversity of our communities and something which I am incredibly proud of. Bringing people together takes the heat out of those discussions around race and hate and things that have happened recently.”
The return of the Mela so soon after the recent unrest in the town is a powerful testament to its resilience and unwavering commitment to uniting people from diverse backgrounds. Through performing arts, culture, and celebration, the Mela continues to foster a sense of community, bringing people together collectively in the spirit of harmony.
The multi-award-winning event, now in its 34th year, remains one of the region’s most popular and longest-standing celebrations. It draws visitors from across the UK, who come together to enjoy the vibrant weekend festivities, now gratefully rescheduled for the 7th and 8th of September.
The event is free for all to attend and tickets are not required.