Mela ready to welcome biggest number of stalls
THE EVENT
A RECORD-breaking number of stalls have been confirmed for this year’s Middlesbrough Mela.
The multicultural family-friendly event, which will be held in Albert Park, is expecting more than 70 to be set up during the event.
On the list are a huge number of food stalls offering everything from traditional asian sweet and savoury dishes to Greek and Mexican inspired flavours. Traders are travelling from as far afield as the south coast to attend the Teesside event, say organisers.
Middlesbrough Mela is one of the largest multi-cultural events in the North East. The annual event attracts up to 40,000 visitors of all backgrounds to enjoy a mix of live music, foods, craft and fashion stalls and takes place over two days from August 13.
The Mela is free to enter and is guaranteed to offer something for the entire family. This year, the entertainment line up will be hosted by BBC Asian Network’s Bobby Friction and includes headline acts from Panjabi MC and Lehmber Hussainpuri.
Many people attend to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the refreshment stalls at the Mela.
“It will be a food paradise this year,” said Kash Patel, chair of Middlesbrough Mela committee. “We have broken a record for the number of stalls attending in our 32 years which we have been really encouraged by.
“It is a great litmus test. We’ve had more than 70 stall holders confirmed so far with a dozen or so still to confirm. Cuisine from all around the world will be on offer, everything from pizza to poppadoms.
“There will, of course, be traditional offerings including sweet and savoury – most popular are always the likes of shish kebabs and chicken tikka masala dishes.”
The organising team is looking forward to welcoming crowds to the free family event. Middlesbrough Mela was established in 1990 as a small event for the growing number of Asian families who came to settle in Middlesbrough. It was originally a one day event that started outside the Civic Centre but as it grew in popularity, it moved and extended to cover a weekend.
The 2022 event, on August 13 and 14, will include a funfair and food stalls.
WILL BE EVEN BIGGER AND BETTER
THIS YEAR