At the Broomhouse Street Party there was an authentic festival experience on offer with dancing, circus acts and rappers all adding to the fun.
There were around 1,600 people at the party organised by Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, B Healthy Together, Community One Stop Shop, St David’s Carrick Knowe Church, and The BIG Project, with funding from the National Lottery. Staff served up 2,000 meals were served during the event.
Neil Hay, CEO, Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, said: “We are extremely grateful to The Fringe and all the performers who came along, risked the weather, and put on a fantastic show for Broomhouse and the communities of Southwest Edinburgh. The Street Party always brings a bit of magic to the area, and this year was no exception. The feedback and comments have been extremely positive.
“What this event does best is bring our communities together. For many, times are tough just now, so it was wonderful to see our values of being welcoming and supportive to all unfold with everyone sharing the experience as one.
“As a charity, we are led by the needs of those we support. With so many people together in one place, it provides a great opportunity to gather feedback on the worries, challenges, and our communities’ needs. This will inform our ongoing work, ensuring that Space continues to be people-led.
“A huge thanks to our organising committee, volunteers, funders, and everyone else who made this all possible.”
Acts included Fringe 360 All Stars, who displayed breaking, BMX skills, and gymnastics, all accompanied by live rapping. Think Circus Workshop had children spinning plates and learning to hula hoop, while Sze Lyson wowed everyone with his football skills.
Japan’s Sushi Tap Show had people simultaneously laughing and being amazed at their feats; Malaki Frost had the crowds gasping, with sword swallowing and juggling daggers while balanced on a pole in the street.
Music played a big part, too, with three different choirs. Broomhouse’s own The BIG Project Children’s Choir opened with a medley of their favourite songs. The Ukrainian Women and Children’s Choirs, returning for a second year, put in a fantastic performance. People got up and danced to the high-energy tunes, and the crowd was stunned at the quality of the singing. Another local act, Bachata Blues, had the audience dancing to their rhythmic Latin moves.
An army of volunteers from locally based businesses, such as Aegon, BayWa r.e., Crisis Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest, Ooni, and Sainsbury’s Bank, kept the streets clean and ensured everyone had an excellent time. Photographer Robin Mair donated his time to capture the proceedings throughout the day.
All photos Robin Mair
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
