On the other bank of the River Thames, at Rye Farm Meadow, on Saturday, big crowds were attracted to the Abingdon Food Festival.

It featured a lot of caterers with flavours from all round the world.

The Greek Souvlaki stall looked the most popular. I did not ask why people were queuing there when most stalls had much smaller queues.

The cookery displays also looked popular.

The event is organised by the Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper. These Rotary members are from Oxford Rotary but told me that Abingdon Vesper are high flying stars in the world of Rotary for the big events they organise and the amount they raise for charity. In 2019 the Food Festival profit goes to good causes, 50% to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

Music was provided by bands at a central stage. This is the Ock Street Band, a group of Abingdon based musicians named after an ancient Abingdon road.

Like any rotary event there were also a lot of community stalls. The Stonehill Community Gardens in Abingdon have land off Oday Hill where people can learn about gardening. It is open every Wednesday, 10 am – 4 pm.They say Drop-in or stay all day​. Volunteer and get involved … be closer to nature, learn and share skills and make friends.

I had a go with a Virtual Reality headset that gave an idea what it is like with dementia at the Bellevie care stall. They are a commercial group looking to expand in the Abingdon area. They aim to create care teams that give personalised care for the elderly.

The first Abingdon Pride Day was officially opened by the Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Cheryl Briggs, and the MP of Abingdon, Layla Moran.

The event had been put together by Abingdon Town Council in just 4 weeks, with the help of Dawn, who organises events like the Abingdon Chilli Festival. The day came together very well. The very colourful Ashnah were one of the first acts performing.

The Cancer Research stall, and shop had a reminder that cancer does not discriminate. We are all in it together.

The Conservative Party were having fun with their leadership content. Who do you fancy? (for PM) Jeremy Hunt or Boris Johnson.

On the main stage large crowds gathered to watch the acts.

Some of them were very colourful and larger than life.

At the Fire Station in Abingdon there was also a completely separate open day. Carswell School Fete was also happening a street away. It was also the Abingdon Food Festival which drew huge crowds (more of that tomorrow or the next day). The recruiting fire engine had the rainbow flag for diversity and non discrimination.

Lesbian and Gay Liaison Officers (LAGLO) were on the Market Place. LAGLOs work to encourage the reporting of transphobic, bi-phobic and homophobic incidents.
The first Abingdon Pride Day was fun. But behind it is a history of discrimination and bullying.

In the evening there was an open microphone night with some poetry at Pablo’s Lounge. This was the first Abingdon Pride Day. It was also the first Open Mic. night for poetry I had been to in Abingdon.

The Abingdon and District Musical Society will hold its Summer Choral Concert on Saturday 8th June at 7:30 pm in St Helen’s Church. They will be performing Stabat Mater by Dvorak.

The Abingdon Country Market will be at the Salvation Army in West St Helen Street on Saturday 8th June (2nd Saturday in the Month) from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm. They have homemade cakes, preserves, bread, eggs, plants and flowers (in season, locally grown). Also Crafts and cards.

Then the is a Abingdon Marina area clean up organised by the Rotary. The event is in support of World Oceans Day, (https://www.worldoceansday.org/ ) to reduce the amount of plastics getting into the Thames and flowing on to the sea.

It was a lovely sunny day and lots of people went to the Abbey Gardens for Fun in the Park.

Near the entrance, extinction rebellion had a quote from David Attenborough: ‘The collapse of civilisation and the natural world is on the horizon.’ They had a useful leaflet about steps people can take locally to try to help avert disaster. On 21st March 2019 (before the local elections) The Vale of White Horse District Council joined a growing number of local authorities in declaring a climate emergency.

Tim, the new curator of the Abbey Buildings, was out in a monk’s outfit.

There were over twenty community groups with stalls with games and information. Home Start Southern Oxfordshire are a voluntary home-visiting scheme, which supports families with at least one child under five. They have been operating for thirty years in the area, and ensure families get the right volunteer, and always see the same person.

Thankyou to Steve from the Friends of Radley Lakes for this picture of a winner of a Teddy on the Tombola.

There were lots of activities such as bouncing castles, a climbing wall, and crafts.

On the main stage, which will be used by Music in the Park this evening, there was a variety of entertainments. I saw a swing band, Scottish Dancing, and the Abingdon Music Centre Community Orchestra – pictured above.