A HOST of family fun is coming to the Univeristy of Reading this weekend, and everyone is invited.
Its second annual community festival is returning on Saturday, May 18, offering a wide range of entertainment and activities designed to showcase the best of the university while having fun.
The programme includes music, theatre, research talks and interactive workshops/activities, plus a range of fantastic street food.
It takes place on its Whiteknights campus, in both indoor and outdoor venues.
A main stage is being set up in the Meadow, and will see a diverse range of Reading and Wokingham-based artists perform. They include an alumni Morris dance group, a Ukrainian choir, indie-folk songwriter One Eyed Man, upbeat afro-fusion group Limpopo Groove, a collaboration between a rap group and the University’s big band.
Workshops will feature family yoga, painting, improvisation, various dance styles, meditation and African drumming. These need to be booked online in advance due to limited space.
There will be taster sessions and demonstrations of various sports including football, netball, volleyball, badminton, rowing, rugby, martial arts and bubble football.
Kidical Mass will be organising a family-friendly campus bike ride starting at noon.
The university’s research talks and activities for children and adults will cover a range of topics, hands-on science experiments, and the opportunity to engage with Reading’s top academics.
A Community Zone will feature puzzle games, block paint printing, henna tattoos and face painting to market stalls and more.
The campus’ grounds, which include the Harris Gardens and Whiteknights Lake, will be open for visitors to explore.
To help people get to the event in a sustainable manner, the university is running a free shuttle bus service from three areas around Reading, including: Reading Station, Tilehurst and Whitley. In addition, people using the Leopard 3 bus from Arborfield will be able to use this service for free on the day.
Limited parking is also available on campus.
Molli Cleaver, community engagement manager at the University of Reading, said: “We are excited to bring back the Community Festival for a second year. It’s a great opportunity for the local community to come to our beautiful campus and find out more about the University and the world-changing research that takes place here.
“It’s also a chance to showcase some of the incredible talent we have here in Reading, from local dancers and musicians to artists, craft-makers and street food vendors. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to campus for what promises to be a fun-filled day.”
The Festival is being hosted by the University and Reading Students’ Union, in collaboration with partners from across the town, and runs from 11am to 5pm.
For more details, including information about bus timetables, log on to: https://www.reading.ac.uk/about/local-community/community-festival
