Video: Rain fails to stop play as 30,000 attend festival

10:06am Tuesday 8th July 2008

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ORGANISERS of this year's Danson Festival say the level of community involvement in the event was one of the highest in recent years.

The free festival was held on Saturday and Sunday in Danson Park, Welling.

Both the youth zone and the dance stage were packed with local performers, with more than 40 different dance schools and troupes performing on the dance stage, while a host of young singers and musicians got the chance to showcase their talents on the youth stage.

Even blustery rain on Sunday did not keep the crowds away, although small gazebos and marquees had to be anchored down or moved to sheltered spots.

Headline acts on the music stage, Suspiciously Elvis and The Motown Show "went down a storm" according to Bexley Council's arts manager Saskia Delman.

The arts village provided some spectacular entries for its Earth Carnival procession which was the launch pad for Bexley's Olympic celebrations.

The parade was led by local schools and dance groups with professional input from the community arts company Emergency Exit Arts.

It is estimated that more than 30,000 people visited the festival over the two days, although bad weather on Sunday kept some people away.

The weather also affected the dragon boat racing on Danson Lake, which finished earlier than scheduled because of the rain and strong winds.

The council is now applying to the Arts Council England for funding which will allow talented youngsters to perform with the professional musicians on the main music stage next year.

For a video of the festival log onto newsshopper.co.uk/video

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