The Dartford Festival of Light returned to the borough on 26th November and was organised by Cohesion Plus working in partnership with Dartford Borough Council and Kent Equality Cohesion Council. The event which normally runs in the borough annually last took place in 2019 and was subsequently paused in 2020 due to the pandemic. The aim of the festival was to celebrate what binds the communities together in Dartford through the values of local heroes, friendship and community.
11 local schools and some 2000 people attended the festival which boasted street artists and live music. In its 11th year, the parade, which began in the High Street was led by Mayor of Dartford Cllr Rosanna Currans, Leader of Dartford Borough Council Cllr Jeremy Kite and Deputy Lord Lieutenant Kelvin Holford and made its way onto Market Street, along Market Place, down the High Street and finally making its way to Central Park where short speeches were made to the crowds. The evening climaxed in a dazzling fireworks display.
Gurvinder Sandher, the Artistic Director of Cohesion Plus added, “We have all been starved of collective, community activity for so long. Therefore it’s been an absolute pleasure to be able to deliver the Dartford Festival of Light this year after a very trying and long 18 months. It was incredibly heart-warming to see so many people come out and support the festival despite the cold weather. The Dartford Festival of Light is a wonderful example of how such events can break down barriers, celebrating all that binds us together young or old, faith or no faith and urban or rural. Special thanks go to our event partners Dartford Borough Council whose support has allowed the festival of light to flourish and grow over the past decade.”
