Fair Trade Fiesta to celebrate World Fair Trade Day

SCOTLAND’S FIRST FAIR TRADE FIESTA TO TAKE PLACE IN EDINBURGH ON WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY

To celebrate Scotland’s status as only the second Fair Trade Nation in the world, the first ever Fair Trade Fiesta is being held in Edinburgh on World Fair Trade Day, 10 May 2014.

The Fiesta begins with a Parade which leaves the City Chambers at 1 pm then progresses down to Princes Street Gardens for a free concert in The Ross Band Stand featuring acts from around the world, headlined by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and hosted by Fair Trade Ambassador Hardeep Singh Kohli.

The Rt Honourable Donald Wilson, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, will start the Parade on its way from the City Chambers in The Royal Mile.  Pupils from St Thomas Aquin’s High School and St George’s School in Edinburgh will join members of the Edinburgh Samba School, Broughton School’s pipers and drummers and around 300 others marching in the Parade, including college, university and interfaith groups.  Davidson’s Mains Pipe Band whose members are all under 14, will pipe the parade down to Princes Street Gardens and join the headline act, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers on stage to play a number.

Scotland’s International Development Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP will lead the parade and speak during the concert about the importance of Fair Trade and his pride in Scotland’s Fair Trade nation status.    Other speakers include two Ghanaian farmers who will give a firsthand account of Fair Trade working.

The entire event is being sponsored by Scotmid, Scotland’s co-operative supermarket  with the support of a grant from the Scottish Fair Trade Forum.

Other acts performing in the concert include Simply Soweto Encha, reggae band The IFoundation, Afro-Celt band Zuba, Edinburgh’s Got Soul and Clan Macondo.  Red Dog Music are supplying the entire concert back line equipment.

Follow the Fiesta on Twitter @FairTradeFiesta