Colourful programme at the family festival on 1 May

On Wednesday, 1 May, an international family festival will take place at the textile factory in Bocholt from 10 am to 6 pm. From 10 am to 6 pm, visitors can look forward to a colourful and creative programme that reflects Bocholt's cultural diversity. Admission is free.

A large number of clubs and societies from Bocholt present hands-on activities, music and dance on the grounds of the weaving mill on Uhlandstraße. Culinary delicacies and other attractions complete the programme.

The event is organised by the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL), supported by the city of Bocholt and local cultural associations. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is sponsoring the event as part of the "Europe Cheque" programme, which focuses in particular on civil society involvement in Europe and supports projects that promote the European idea and strengthen the European spirit in North Rhine-Westphalia in a variety of ways. The large international LWL family festival in Bocholt is also part of the programme.

Amultifaceted commitment to the European idea

The Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) is continuing its tradition of an annual family festival and has organised a major event for the tenth time in cooperation with the Integration Council of the city of Bocholt, Europe-Direct Bocholt and many cultural associations."Last year we were able to impress the more than 5,000 visitors with a great stage programme and lots of hands-on activities at the stands of the various cultural associations and organisations, and we definitely want to do that again this year", says Martin Schmidt on behalf of the organiser LWL-Museum Textilwerk.

Colourful programme for young and old

Bruno Wansing, Integration Officer for the city of Bocholt, is also looking forward to the upcoming festival: "We are delighted that so many participants from last year will be back again this year."

Once again, visitors can look forward to a colourful programme: a cabaret theatre will enchant the audience, a 15-metre-long caterpillar invites visitors to marvel at the special exhibition "IndustrieInsekten" in the textile factory and a storyteller will captivate them with stories from all over the world. A brand new addition to the programme of events is a special performance: in the style of a reconstruction of historical events, a textile entrepreneur will guide visitors through his everyday working life in a weaving mill in the years around 1900.

Familiar favourites from previous years, such as the steam tractor and the numerous club stands with culinary specialities, will also be back.

In addition, the cultural mediators of the textile factory will guide visitors through the weaving mill, accompanied by interpreters who will simultaneously translate the tours into various languages. There will be a diverse programme on stage, from Sicilian street musicians and a Belgian band to a Chinese singer. Visitors can not only get to know other cultures and languages, but also socialise and network with other groups. "We are looking forward to a varied programme and a great event", says Schmidt.

The following organisations and institutions are taking part in the festival:

• Afghan Community Bocholt
• Afghan Cultural Association Bocholt
• Ahmadiyya community
• Alliance for Family in Bocholt e.V.
• German-Albanian Society Bocholt
• Centro-Cultural-Espanol de Bocholt e.V.
• German-British Society Bocholt e.V.
• German-Chinese Society Bocholt e.V.
• German-French Society Bocholt e.V.
• German-Syrian Association Bocholt
• German-Turkish Society e.V., Bocholt
• Eritrean Cultural Association Bocholt and Surroundings e.V.
• Europe-Direct Bocholt
• EWIBO
• Friends of the Westphalian Textile Museum e.V.
• International Mesopotamian Cultural Association e.V.
• Italian Cultural Association Bocholt
• Coptic Association
• Croatian Cultural Community Bocholt
• Cultural Association Akdeniz Alevis Bocholt and Surroundings e.V.
• Kurdish Cultural Association

and

• German Red Cross
• Integration Council of the City of Bocholt
• City of Bocholt (personnel, ESB, fire brigade)