A FAMILY festival celebrating diverse cultures is being held in Barnard Castle this weekend.

The Harambee Pasadia festival at The Hub will feature food, music and dance from Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean from today (Friday, May 22) to Monday, May 25.

Organiser Yilis del Carmen Suriel said: “Harambee Pasadia is about fantastic music, dance, culture and food from Latin America and Africa, but it is also a celebration of the broad range of communities we have in the North East.

“People from black and minority ethnic communities don’t tend to be big festival goers, so we are providing a safe environment where they can come down, meet each other, relax and have a really good time.”

The festival was set up by Newcastle-based musicians Hannabiell Sanders and Yilis del Carmen Suriel, who turned their love of throwing music-themed parties for friends into an annual festival.

Their own band, Hannabiell & Midnight Blue, will be performing at the festival along with jazz trombonist Dennis Rollins, K.O.G & The Zongo Brigade and Ray Harris and the Fusion Experience.

Other events twill include drumming and dance workshops, arts events and sporting activities.

Tickets for the four-day festival, which include camping at The Hub, cost £45 for adults and £15 for under 18s, under tens go free.

Day tickets are priced from £25.

To buy a ticket visit brownpapertickets.com.