39th Annual Freehold Festival

39th Annual Freehold Festival

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Freehold Festival Mela celebrated 39 years today (Sunday 7 July) with the sun beaming down on the festival making it a perfect day for community celebrations.

King Street North was transformed for the festival with bunting hanging from the street lights, fairground rides, belly dancing, Asian music and live drum playing attracting people of all ages.

Mohammed Salim Allah Hoo, organiser of the festival, said: “It has been a wash out the past few years but God has graced us with beautiful weather today and everyone is happy.

“We have no council funding and the bank is empty so I have organised everything. The community really help as well.”

Attracting people of all ages, the festival offered home made food as well as ice cream and cold drinks. With fairground rides and games the festival really enhanced community spirit and offered a day of fun for everyone.

Mohammed added: “People who came 39 years ago still come but bring their children and grandchildren. It really is about the community and it allows people to come out who wouldn’t usually come out and socialise.”

Celebrating late into the evening, the festival aims to bring the Asian and English communities together for the day.

“Everyone is welcome, everybody knows each other here and we cater for everybody” said Mohammed.

Next year the festival will celebrate forty years of success.

Mohammed added: “There is no Rochdale Mela anymore so if I stop doing this it is going it go and it shouldn’t because it is the heart of the community.