Storm Boelo Couldn’t Stop Hatfield’s Cultural Celebration!
Updated: 13 hours ago
Not even Storm Boelo on 25th October could keep people away from Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC’s Black History Month Cultural Pop-Up Market and Workshop Weekend at The Galleria Hatfield.
Despite the challenging weather, visitors arrived with warm smiles, enthusiasm and energy that soon heated up the space, reminding us what makes this event so special: the people who come together as a community.
We welcomed visitors from far and wide, including Shropshire, locations across London from north to south, Essex, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, various parts of Hertfordshire including the local community of Welwyn Hatfield, St Alban, Hitchin, Stevenage, Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford and Berkhamsted. Some had travelled considerable distances to join us, and it was wonderful to see people making the journey to be part of the celebration.
One visitor captured the feeling perfectly when they explained:
“I heard the drums and I thought they are not just any drums. They are the sound of Africa and it was calling me.”
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Music has always played an important role in many African and Caribbean cultures, from storytelling and ceremonies to sharing messages, bringing communities together and calling people to action. The sound Ghanian drumming helped bring people together, creating an invitation that reached beyond the walls of the event | Visitors also enjoyed a performance of traditional Jamaican folk songs by members of Jam Folk UK, who invited the audience to join in and participate. The performance introduced visitors to songs passed down through generations, helping to keep Jamaica's musical heritage alive and encouraging others to appreciate and carry on these cultural traditions. |
A Celebration for Everyone
One of the things we love most about the weekend is seeing visitors of all ages and abilities enjoying the experience. Accessibility and making our events welcoming to everyone are key priorities for Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to visit, explore, take part and feel like they belong.
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This year's Express Yourself activities Many Pieces, One Community and games were partly sponsored by Hertfordshire County Councillors Tony Kingsbury, Paul Zukowski, Beth Kelly and Hillary Skoczylas, who support opportunities for people to express themselves freely and enjoy accessible, welcoming activities. Children, parents and visitors were invited to draw something that represents who they are, using paint pens on fabric.
The drawings included cultural influences, wildlife, sunny climates, patterns, everyday objects, pets, family members and much more. As the pieces were displayed on the wall, visitors could spot similarities and discover connections with other people's drawings.
The individual pieces will eventually be stitched together to create a tapestry, celebrating the different things that make us who we are while showing how we are connected.
New Businesses, Returning Traders and Connections Made
We introduced new businesses to visitors, while also welcoming back familiar brands that have supported the event before.
Throughout the weekend, we witnessed some great sales, collaborations between businesses and connections being made between traders and visitors that could lead to future opportunities. These events offer more than a place to sell products and services; they create opportunities for independent businesses to meet, exchange ideas, reach new customers and build relationships.
In today's climate, when division can sometimes seem to dominate our towns and television screens, it was heartwarming to see people coming together and supporting one another.
That spirit extended beyond the trading stalls. Traders covered one another so they could take breaks and join in with the activities, including games of Dominoes, Ludi (Ludo) and Chequers (Draughts), as well as a little dancing!
These games brought generations together too, with our resident elder joining in to play and share in the enjoyment of traditional games.
These small moments are a big part of what makes the Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC experience special; opportunities for people to meet, share experiences and enjoy one another's company.
Reflections: Courageous Black Women Then and Now
One of the standout features of this year's event was Reflections: Courageous Black Women Then and Now, our free exhibition celebrating extraordinary Black women from history and the present day. The exhibition was supported by A2Dominion's 365 Black History Month Fund, helping Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC share these important stories with visitors in Hatfield.
 | The exhibition was a big hit, and the number of thank-you messages and positive comments we received was incredibly encouraging for the volunteers who dedicated their time to researching these phenomenal women and creating the displays. Their hard work brought together stories spanning generations and countries, giving visitors the opportunity to explore African, Caribbean, American and British history in one place.
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One parent shared this lovely feedback:
“We appreciate the time you put into this display; my son is really interested in finding out about other culture, he's had the chance to view a piece of African, Caribbean, American and British history in one place.”
Feedback like this reminds us why the exhibition matters. Seeing these women's achievements, courage and contributions recognised can inspire curiosity, encourage conversations and help younger generations discover people and stories they may not encounter in their everyday learning.
We would love to see the exhibition displayed in schools across Hertfordshire. Schools interested in hosting Reflections: Courageous Black Women Then and Now, or one of our previous exhibitions, are welcome to get in touch to find out more.
A Warm Welcome from Our Volunteers
Behind every event is a team of volunteers who give their time, energy and enthusiasm to help bring everything together. This year, we were delighted to welcome new additions to the team, Lorina and Mei, alongside our wonderful returning volunteers Moreen, Hauwa and Mustafa, pictured below. As well as Alethea, Alison, Simon, Carmen and Davinia.
From welcoming visitors and answering questions to helping activities run smoothly, the team worked hard throughout the weekend. Their contribution goes beyond practical tasks. They genuinely care about the atmosphere we create and want visitors to feel welcome, included and part of the family.
One returning visitor summed this up beautifully:
“This is my 3rd year attending and you always create such warm spaces, the children love coming to take part in the activities.”
That kind of feedback means so much to us, we want people to feel comfortable coming through the doors; we want families to make memories, visitors to discover something new and everyone to feel they belong.
A huge thank you to every volunteer who arrived ready to help, bringing welcoming smiles, bags of enthusiasm and a genuine commitment to making the weekend enjoyable for everyone.
Making the Most of the Space We Had
This year, we held the event in a smaller unit at The Galleria Hatfield, compared to previous years. Although we would have loved to welcome more traders and offer visitors an even wider selection of businesses and activities, we had to work within the space available.
Unfortunately, this meant we were unable to accept every trader who wanted to take part. We know how important these opportunities are for independent businesses, and we appreciate everyone's interest, patience and support.
Even with a smaller space and challenging weather outside, the warmth of the people who joined us made the weekend a special one. The event was a reminder that a celebration is not simply about the size of the venue or the number of stalls; it is also about the connections made, the cultures shared and the experiences people take home with them.
Thank You, Hatfield!
From the visitors who travelled miles to join us to the traders who supported one another, the volunteers who gave their time and everyone who stopped to enjoy the exhibition, entertainment and activities, thank you for being part of this year's celebration.
We'd like to thank The Galleria Hatfield for accommodating this year's Black History Month Cultural Pop-Up Market and Workshop Weekend for the fourth year.
A special thank you goes to Hertfordshire County Councillors and also A2Dominion.
Bring Your Culture to Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC!
Would you like to share your culture with your community? Come and volunteer with us!
Hatfield Cultural Connection CIC wants to welcome people from different cultural backgrounds into its volunteer team so we can continue to grow our events and celebrate the many cultures that make up our communities.
Bring your enthusiasm, your ideas and your culture, and the team will help to create more welcoming events where people can see their heritage represented.
Interested in joining the volunteer team or sharing an idea for a future event? Drop us an email: hatfieldculturalconnection@gmail.com.
Let's celebrate culture, share our stories and make more room for everyone.
Culture is not just for a month. It's part of who we are, all year round.
