Fitz's Outdoor Festival celebrates Chinese culture in the sun

Nearly 1,500 people enjoyed a day of music, dancing and workshops on the lawns of the Fitzwilliam Museum last week, as part of the Outdoor Festival of Chinese Culture.

This event last Saturday (24 July) saw the Museum's grounds filled with marquees offering family activities, performances of traditional Chinese song and costumed dance, and even a range of authentic food. Visitors could also take a break from the sunshine inside the Museum, where special trails were available to introduce them to the superb collections of Chinese art and objects within the Fitz's permanent collection.

The Outdoor Festival was one of many taking place across the country to celebrate London 2012 Open Weekend, which initiated the two year countdown to the Olympic Games. The theme of the weekend was 'challenge', and many visitors to the Fitzwilliam's Festival took up the invitation to try calligraphy, paper cutting and fan-making, learn a little Mandarin, have a go at Tai Chi or become a young reporter thanks to BBC Cambridgeshire, who were also present at the event.

See photos from the event, including shots of the performances, on the Fitzwilliam's Flickr site

28 July 2010