LEAMINGTON Peace Festival is set to return in 2025.
The long-running festival was last held in 2019, but for various reasons including the pandemic, has not taken place since.
But a feasibility meeting took place last week with the aim of reviving the once popular free festival, which had established itself as a fixture of the town’s calendar since 1979, taking place in the Pump Room Gardens over a summer weekend.
A group of 50 people gathered at St Patrick’s Irish Club, off Adelaide Road, on Tuesday January 30 and left with a determination to bring the festival back.
Everyone had the opportunity to speak, shared stories of how much the Peace Festival had meant to them and their families, and how they would love to see it back in the town.
One of the Peace Festival founders, Gian Clare of the United Nations Association, reminded people that the festival was started as a positive community response to a troubled world situation.
He said: ‘We need a Peace Festival now more than ever.”
Also present were representatives of Leamington’s Amadiyya Muslim Association, which was involved from the early days of the festival as well as local organisations such as Amnesty International, Justice for Palestinians and Action 21.
Enough people have come forward to start a new organising committee.
There were messages of support from local MP Matt Western, Ian Davison, the leader of Warwick District Council and Coun Ella Billiald the WDC arts spokesperson. The chair of the council, Coun Sidney Syson was present at the meeting.
The Pump Room Gardens has been booked for June 2025.
Anyone who would like to be involved, either as an organiser or a volunteer, at the festival should email [email protected]
