UFest returned to Maldon Promenade Park for a third time on Friday (August 15), and was heavily attended by local residents. 

Community groups, charities and businesses set up activities and information hubs across the park, with areas split up by Health & Fitness, Environment, Family, and Wellbeing. 

Live music by the 'Singing Painter' John Pierce, The Big Sing, and other artists echoed through the park, as families enjoyed the Sunny Friday.  

Passers-by enjoying the opera music of John Pierce. (Photo: Chloe Brewster)

Essex Community First Aid Volunteers, Places Leisure, Maldon Hockey Club, Healthwatch Essex, Maldon Recycling, Happy Healthy Minds and Essex Youth Service were just some of those who set up stalls. 

A couple of smiley volunteers for Essex Community First Aid - a non-profit charity providing event first aid. (Photo: Chloe Brewster)

There were plenty of children's activities dotted around, with many stalls offering lawn games and fun challenges. 

Some children trying their hand at some archery in the 'Health and Fitness' Zone. (Photo: Chloe Brewster)

The festival was also attended by representatives of the District Council, including Maldon Mayor Cllr Andrew Lay, and District Council Chairman, Cllr Kevin Lagan, who gave a short speech to visitors at around 11.30am.

UFest, a self-described festival of community and wellbeing, aims to bring local people together for a day of connection and wellness support.

Children were invited to pet and learn about the Essex Fire & Rescue Dogs. (Photo: Chloe Brewster)

Speaking to Maldon Nub News, Cllr Kevin Lagan told us what inspired the idea: "Covid taught us a lot of lessons, especially on good physical health and mental wellbeing, so we decided as a council that we wanted to put something on that was free, that was engaging, and that was really about community.

"Talking to different partners and making people come together for a kind of celebratory day, will hopefully stimulate people go 'Okay I want to learn more about that' or 'I want to try a Couch to 5k', something that inspires people.

Rainbow flags lined the pathways of Prom Park on Friday. (Photo: Chloe Brewster)

"It is absolutely critical to have local groups here, because council is about community, the council isn't some beastly machine that sits to one side, it's there to service and deliver and partner with all different agencies. 

"We couldn't put something on like this without them."

One community group in attendance was Maldon Knitters and Stitchers, a group of 67 members around the county who hand knit and sew items for charity.

Essex Knitters and Stitchers volunteers' and their range of handcrafted items, from hats to teddies to blankets. (Photo: Chloe Brewster)

They have distributed items to Broomfield Hospital, Nursing Homes, and support centres, as well as creating hundreds of trauma teddies for sick children and suicide prevention bobble hats for farmers.

One volunteer Nub News spoke to told us how the group does much more than help those receiving the handmade items, it provides friendship and solace to those attending the knitting groups too.

"It's great for wellbeing and it is a social event for us. We can meet up and crochet, knit, or sew, or if we just want to chat, we just chat." One volunteer told Nub News. 

"We want to spread the news that we're here and we're here to help, by providing items that could help people, but also by providing social interaction"

There are groups in Maldon, Hatfield Peverel and Witham. (Photo: Chloe Brewster)

The group holds biweekly meetings in Maldon Library, and there are also groups in Hatfield Peverel, Witham, and across Essex.

You can find out more by visiting the Knitters and Stitchers Website, here.

The Recycling Hub gave away re-usable bags and recipe ideas. (Photo: Chloe Brewster)

A number of council related stalls were also set up, including a Food Recycling Hub, offering advice on how to use leftover produce.

There was also a Clean Air Route education area, offering children's activities and Q&A leaflets.

The stall offered a miscroscope activity to residents visualise road pollution in Maldon. (Photo: Chloe Brewster)

With every stall seeing a number of visitors, it seems UFest 2024 was an overall success for the Council.