POC IOM Presents: Culture Festival! And you are cordially invited, so make sure to save the date - Saturday 21st August 2021.

POC IOM celebrated its first birthday in June 2021, and ever since we formed POC IOM, we have spoken about the idea of hosting some sort of celebratory event, not only to celebrate the work that we have done, but also to shed light on the plethora of cultures we have here on the Isle of Man.

There are many people of colour on the island that would identify as Manx, while also heavily identifying with their ethnic heritage. The way we see it - ‘Manx-ness’ is ever changing, and can look many different ways, and we wanted to take a day to acknowledge that. And in that we found the birth of ‘Culture Fest’.

So, what can you expect on the day? Where to start!

Culture Fest will be held at The Nunnery, on Saturday 21st August 2021. POC IOM started this crazy journey after the BLM march last year, which ended at the Sea Terminal. We want to start our day of celebration by continuing the march this year onward to The Nunnery where the very first ‘Culture Festival’ will take place. We would love for everyone to join the march, in symbolisation of how far we as a community have come in the past year in continuing our journey in willingness to learn and stand with the POC community on the island. The march will begin at the Sea Terminal car park at 10am, and follow a designated route along the Quay, onto Old Castletown Road, and then into The Nunnery grounds.

Once inside, the main festivities of Culture Fest will kick-off at 11am sharp. Throughout the whole day there will be live music and food trucks. From 11am until 4pm, Culture Fest will take the shape of a family-friendly afternoon. There will be free children’s entertainment, featuring Active Souls, Mad Jack’s, Palettes Face Painting, and the chance to win coupons to use at the Craftwork Studio stall on the day. There will also be educational workshops taking place, some tailored for children, and others for adults, which will be run by local charities and organisations. We will also have a number of local businesses in attendance selling their products, ranging from cakes and traybakes, to jewelry, to records, to home decor, we’ve got it all!

Then from 4pm, Culture Fest will take on much more of a festival shape - with emphasis on the live musicians we will have in attendance. We have a fantastic line up, with many Manx favourites ready to feature - (line up to be announced soon). This portion of the day is open to anyone over the age of 18 only.

We have plenty more perks to announce - from free travel options, raffle entries and prizes, musicians, small business lineup, workshop schedules, to hotels that are willing to lend a hand if anyone fancies a night out in the big smoke after Culture Fest. We encourage you to keep your eyes peeled on both the @poc_iom and @gefthemongoose social media pages for ALL THINGS Culture Fest.

We have many people and sponsors that we need to thank for helping us make our dream of Culture Fest a reality. These will all be announced in the very near future, so everyone is able to see and acknowledge those who have supported us on this crazy journey. To all our sponsors and helpers - you know who you are, and we appreciate you so much!

Tickets are on sale now, so move fast to ensure you secure your tickets. Tickets are priced at just £10, and for all you families out there, it is worth noting that U18’s will be admitted into Culture Fest for free! (Still be sure to get them a U18 ticket).

Bring your friends, bring your family and enjoy the food, the workshops, the activities, the music, the drinks and the lovely inclusive atmosphere. Appreciate how far we’ve come with us. There’s lots in store - You don’t want to miss out… see you there!

Love,

POC IOM x