As many as 1,000 people turned up to Chelmsford Museum to celebrate the diverse range of cultures that are present in Chelmsford.

The inaugural Festival Day took place on Saturday, September 30, and it hosted a selection of live performances, art, dance and food stalls in the grounds of the museum, at Oaklands Park.

Visitors at the event were educated in cultural workshops where they got to take part in a number of activities, including Egyptian drumming, Samba dancing, Chinese dumpling making, henna hand painting, African block printing, Brazilian massaging, and many others.

Performances included Egyptian Tanoura, Samba in full carnival regalia, Polish Folklore and African Dance and Drumming.

The event was ideal for people of all ages, who wanted an international experience but in Chelmsford.

Chelmsford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Julia Jeapes said: “We are delighted how this new event has captured the public’s imagination.

“The whole day was a fantastic success with Chelmsford’s diverse population having the opportunity to talk and learn about each other’s cultural backgrounds.”

Nick Wickenden, Manager, Chelmsford Museum said: “This was a wonderful celebration of the people who make up modern Chelmsford, as well as those who made it what it is.”

“Both new and old residents of the City came to the museum to learn about, and celebrate each other’s cultural backgrounds.

The museum is here for all and we are a vital part of the Chelmsford community and we want to reflect that in what we offer.”

The event was supported by the Arts Council England through the ‘No Borders’ project.

The ‘Festival Day’ also launched the start of the BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) Oral History Group who will record people’s experiences of coming to live in Chelmsford and how they settled into the City’s community using artefacts.

They will be preserved at Chelmsford Museum and the Essex Records Office.