The Newtown Fun Fest has got a new name - Newtown Kindness Fest which is still going ahead this Saturday in the Town Hall Grounds.

In addition to a new name, the festival will also be holding a two-minute silence this Saturday to pay tribute to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A Book of Condolence will also be available at the festival for visitors to share their reflections of the Queen and her extraordinary life.

Newtown Kindness Fest is taking place this Saturday between 11am and 3pm in the Town Hall Grounds. The event, which was born from an idea from Cllr Joy Jones, is providing a wealth of free food, activities and more.

The festival is being sponsored by Powys Together, the North Powys Wellbeing Programme and Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council and is being organised and supported by a range of different organisations and led by Jo Hughes and Donna Jenkins of Powys Together.

The two minute’s silence will take place near the gates to the Town Hall Grounds at 11am and will be led by the Rev. Nia Wyn Morris.

Councillor Joy Jones, who is the county councillor for Newtown East, commented:

“I have been absolutely amazed by the kindness of local organisations, businesses and residents who have donated items for Saturday. Some of this is in the form of free food – and time – and some of it is in the shape of gifts for a free raffle. We hope that the Kindness Fest will be an event where the people in the area will be able to come together to remember Queen Elizabeth II and also receive some support from the Newtown community.”

“We thought long and hard about whether we should cancel the event in the light of Her Majesty’s passing and it was a very difficult decision but on balance we felt that it was right to go ahead and provide that support for people who have been going through a very hard time in recent years.”

Jo Hughes from Powys Together explained:

“Thanks to the amazing generosity of the community we’ll be offering a free hog roast (and vegetarian alternative) free tea and cake and free ice-cream although this will be on a ‘while stocks last’ basis. There will also be a free raffle, DJ performances from young people from Newtown Creative Stuff, an open mic session for local musicians and performances from singer-songwriter Tommy Mills and Angel Voice Singing School’s Cathy Beech and a  singing session with Charlotte Woodford. There will also be two bouncy castles and lots of opportunities to take part in sports and bushcraft activities.”

A number of organisations and businesses will be at the event including (at the time of writing) Open Newtown, the North Powys Wellbeing Programme (a partnership led by Powys Teaching Health Board and Powys County Council), Richly Divine Bakes, Santander, Oriel Davies Gallery, Colourburst Jewellery, Newtown Seventh Day Adventist Church, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Stwff and Things, Ponthafren, Hughes Architects, Powys County Council’s Library Service, Action for Children, Branching Out Forest School, Sustrans, PAVO, Credu, St John’s Ambulance Cymru (Newtown), Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre, Hummingbird, Queen of the Cranx, Dyfed Powys Police, Maldwyn Netball Club, N-able, Newtown Parkrun, Newtown Carnival Trust, the NPTC Group of Colleges, Mid Wales Food and Land Trust,  Hilltop Honey, Newtown Integrated Family Centre/Early Help, , Freedom Leisure,, Newtown Theatre Company, Powys County Council’s Family Information Service and its Youth Service, Sport Powys, IC Butchers , ABC Polish Shop (Newtown), Newtown Rugby Club, the Women’s Institute, Ice Cream Van Wales, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Morrisons, Newtown Creative Stuff and Newtown Tennis Club, Tiger Blossom Face painting, JP Hog Roast and Mid-Wales Bouncy Castles.