Article from Kingston.nub.news
The renowned Surbiton Festival made its annual return on Saturday (24 September), as thousands of residents gathered to enjoy a jam-packed day of community celebration.
Organised by the Surbiton Festival Committee, comprising local community businesses and volunteers, and with support from Glenmore House, the event was once again a huge success as the community event celebrated its 29th year.
The festival parade was opened at midday by the Mayor of Kingston, Yogan Yoganathan, escorted by his wife Saroginidevy Yoganathan.
Together, with police motorcycles, they led the parade through the town centre followed by local groups and organisations including The Surbiton British Legion Youth Marching Band, Surrey Freemasons, Royal Kingston District Beavers, Surbiton Girl Guiding and Scouting Association Groups, Kingston Sea Scouts, Kingston Spring Grove Morris Dancers, St Paul's Players, Mrs Bennett's Ballroom, The London Regiment, HMS Steadfast Sea Cadet Corps Drum Band and Lucinda Walsh School of Dance.
This year's event also saw over 120 stallholders take part as well as a host of charity stalls. Live music was performed throughout the day on three different stages by a programme full of local talent, accompanied by a diverse food and drink offering as well as a child-centric area with everything from Punch & Judy to face paintings to a teddy bears picnic.
Robert Dobbie, Chair of the Surbiton Festival, said: "Each year our event seems to grow and evolve, just as attendance does. A small stalwart of local businesses or people come together each year in early Spring to start planning for the September event. I cannot thank those volunteers enough, as well as our sponsors, for making this family fun day such an enjoyable and popular event in the Surbiton diary."