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7:50pm Monday 14th September 2009
A THREE-DAY celebration of Polish culture, art, and food was wrapped up in style with a big picnic in Priory Park.
Over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Southend held its first Polish festival to promote and celebrate all things Polish.
Southend is twinned with the coastal spa town of Sopot, near Gdansk in Poland, and with an estimated 3,000 Polish people living in the district, it is hoped the event will become an annual tradition.
The event was organised by the arts group Hungry Arts and Southend Council.
Visitors could chill out, munch on Polish sausages, eat sauerkraut, and wash it all down with a selection of Polish beer, while enjoying a variety of entertainment, from traditional Polish dancers, to young Polish bands, youth theatre groups, and art and circus skills workshops.
There were also craft stalls selling Polish ceramics and jewellery.
Another highlight was an outdoor theatre performance by 30 Bird Productions, called Chodzenie-Siberia, exploring the relationship between Polish and Iranian cultures after Stalin released 1.5 million Polish prisoners from Siberia in 1941, and told them to travel 3,500 miles to Iran.
Ros Green, from Hungry Arts, said: “It’s been very, very busy all weekend. The main idea is to have a big celebration that brings everyone together in a fun and creative environment.
“It’s about bringing artists together and making Southend a hotbed of creativity.”
Chavscum-on-sea, southend says...
10:07pm Mon 14 Sep 09
Nebs, Westcliff-on-Sea says...
11:35pm Mon 14 Sep 09
southendreb, southend says...
6:23am Tue 15 Sep 09
southendreb, southend says...
6:41am Tue 15 Sep 09
Dan_, Nevendon says...
9:29am Tue 15 Sep 09
Mari, Westcliff-on-Sea says...
10:48am Tue 15 Sep 09
Soozie, Southend on sea says...
11:16am Tue 15 Sep 09
Chavscum-on-sea, southend says...
1:11pm Tue 15 Sep 09
southendreb, southend says...
7:56pm Tue 15 Sep 09
southendreb, southend says...
7:57pm Tue 15 Sep 09
Nebs, Westcliff-on-Sea says...
1:08am Wed 16 Sep 09
southendreb wrote:I was there Sunday afternoon for about two hours. Probably 1000 - 2000, but difficult to tell as it was spread over several large fields. At times some areas were crowded, but other times they were almost empty - depended what was going on elsewhere. The only constant factor was that it was always impossible to get a seat outside the beer tent.
how many were there nebs loked empyty in photos
anon anon, southend on sea says...
7:56am Wed 16 Sep 09
Dan_ wrote:agree Dan.. she is very nice !!
more people that look like Anna Klepacka is only a good thing surely. shes hot.
Leigh-on-Snob, L-O-S says...
6:58pm Fri 18 Sep 09
Chavscum-on-sea, southend says...
11:18am Sat 19 Sep 09
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westcliff willi, says...
9:58pm Mon 14 Sep 09