Oldham will host a day of South Asian culture and family-friendly events this Saturday as the Khushi festival returns to the borough’s cultural quarter. The free, one-day celebration runs from 10:00 to 18:30 on 1 August and spreads across a number of venues, including Oldham Library, the Oldham Theatre Workshop and Studio 1.
What’s on and where
The programme mixes live music, theatre, comedy, visual art and activities aimed at children and adults. Highlights include a midday whirling dervish experience, a late-afternoon comedy set from Shazia Mirza and family shows in the library theatre. There will also be a makers market, food stalls and drop-in creative sessions in the library foyer.
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 | CHAI Stories (interactive music, puppetry & bilingual storytelling) | Library Theatre |
| 12:00 | Whirling dervish experience | Cultural Quarter |
| 13:45 | Lilo Lost It! (children's show) | Library Theatre |
| 14:45 | Satnam Galsian — Love or Sacrifice | Studio 1 |
| 16:00 | Amina Aaliya Beg — My Mum Told Me Not To Marry A [ ] (one-woman comedy drama) | Oldham Theatre Workshop |
| 17:15 | Shazia Mirza — comedy | Oldham Coliseum Theatre |
Activities for all ages
Families can make kites and see a Waterfall of Kites installation at the library, while the foyer hosts a range of free drop-in sessions throughout the day. Offerings include arcade games, sari block printing, henna, mandala-making and fancy dress. A daytime makers market and food stalls will add to the festival atmosphere.
- Free entry to the majority of daytime activities and workshops.
- Events take place indoors and outdoors across the cultural quarter.
- Suitable for multigenerational audiences, with children’s shows scheduled.
“It captures the kind of cultural experience we want Oldham Coliseum Theatre to champion – joyful, welcoming, multigenerational and deeply connected to community,”
Those are the words of Martina Murphy, chief executive of Oldham Coliseum Theatre, who described the festival as an opportunity for people from different backgrounds and ages to come together. Najma Khalid MBE DL, the founder and artistic engagement director of Khushi Festival, has also highlighted the event’s role in fostering creativity and shared cultural experiences across the borough.
Practical information
Most daytime activities are free, and performances are staged across several sites in Oldham’s cultural quarter. Visitors should check individual venue access arrangements if mobility support is needed. With a mixed programme of indoor theatre and outdoor installations, attendees are advised to dress for variable weather and arrive in good time for popular performances.
The Khushi festival returns as a visible reminder of Oldham’s diverse cultural life, offering a day where music, food, performance and hands-on creativity meet under one local banner.
