Huh? So many tents among the trees? October 11 was a special day for us at the Neues Volkshaus Cotta. The 36th Intercultural Days in Dresden were coming to a close, and of course we had to celebrate! And to “build bridges” with the Cotta neighborhood, we also organized a family festival and put together an exciting program for the early evening.
As early as noon, various clubs and initiatives were bustling about among the pavilions, preparing their activities and setting up and decorating their booths. Things kicked off at 2:00 p.m., and the neighborhood came in to explore everything. There was a “Researchers’ Alley,” crossbow shooting, can toss, and even a fairy-tale tent. There were movement games, soccer, and people were eagerly experimenting with futuristic robots.
On stage, the technical crew was still adjusting the last few lights when the first children took the stage! Proud parents gathered in the garden, beaming from ear to ear. A brief, heavy downpour gave everyone quite a scare right before the event started, but the weather was kind to us after that, and we made it through the afternoon dry. But if a thick jacket wasn’t enough to keep you warm, you could grab something delicious to eat at the entrance to the house and take it into the cozy, spacious hall. There, visitors were also engrossed in playing chess, and after eating, many explored the parlor, where there was also a lot of activity: there, they could make hand puppets and sew little hearts! Colorful figures were created this way, and on the way out, there was a video installation to discover: on a large screen and with just a few buttons, it was all about dexterity and speed. Many children completely forgot everything around them while playing there.
But the stage program really got going outside! The ZMO Youth performed, followed by ZamboRey and KlezFolk Dresden. And while KlezFolk was still playing, the musicians of the Fiatelle Brass Band were already unpacking their many instruments—both large and small—in the hall. Outside, things quieted down, but all that energy was concentrated inside—when was the last time we had fogged-up windows at the Volkshaus? The atmosphere was fantastic, and everyone was dancing happily! On top of that, everyone could still grab a bite to eat—thanks to Café Mosaik and the Gorbitz Neighborhood Workshop, who brought along so much delicious food. And to top it all off, there were, of course, delicious waffles and a wide selection of cakes and drinks available all afternoon. To wrap things up, Benuz set up his turntables, and the evening came to a close with a relaxed DJ set in the hall.
We have fond memories of the festival and would like to thank everyone involved in Dresden for their support! A special thanks, of course, goes to the volunteers at the Neues Volkshaus Cotta for their help with setup and takedown, and to the neighborhood for coming out, participating, and getting into the spirit of things.
The events were organized by Konglomerat e.V. in cooperation with the Ausländerrat Dresden e.V. and the Commissioner for Integration and Foreign Residents of the State Capital of Dresden. Funding was provided by the ESF Plus and the Cotta District Advisory Board of the State Capital of Dresden.
Photo: (c) Matthias Naumann, aqua-foto.com
