Respect Fest presents a week of free festival fun for everyone!

We're delighted to share the programme for this year's Respect Fest - over a week of FREE events and workshops between September 12 and 19 and a full on festival celebration day on Sunday September 20!

Everybody is welcome! Exploring the themes of identity, belonging and diversity and inclusion with our local West Devon community, the festival promotes respect for all, celebrates difference and says no to all forms of prejudice - we are stronger together.

Thanks to National Lottery and Tavistock Town Council and local independent councillors funding support and sponsorship from ABC Services, the volunteer Respect Fest team have been able to put together a diverse range of free cultural and creative workshops, events, performances, exhibitions, music and food with the goal of building connection and collaboration in our local communities.

Highlights between 12th and 19th September include; an Afghan cultural afternoon with food, music and activities, Caribbean dance sessions moving and grooving to the sounds of the Caribbean, two textiles workshops exploring feminism and fashion through traditional Indian saris and the geometric visual language of Zimbabwean art, two cookery workshops exploring Italian panzanella and Indian food from the region of Gujarat and a gig night with global beats by two renowned global music DJs!

Our festival day on the 20th brings lively workshops including Colombian dance, African drumming, steel pans and circus skills with Rosie Rainbow, interactive acts by RSVP Bhangra and MAYDAY Morris as well as performances by renowned Kora soloist Suntou Susso and the Tavi Sings The World and Wheelhouse Folk Choirs with their songs celebrating unity and hope. Writer and comedian Robin Ince will be sure to make you laugh and feel welcome.

There’ll be food to taste made by members of our local Syrian, Caribbean, Ukrainian and Chinese communities, as well as patisseries in our pop up community cafe and many exciting creative arts and crafts activities and games to enjoy! We're thrilled to be able to offer such a wide range of opportunities and to exhibit at Tavistock Library the portfolio of creative work our young artists have been developing at school, youth groups and workshops throughout the summer.

We wish to make the festival accessible and all venues have level access. On Sunday 20th, at The Butchers Hall, British Sign Language interpreters are available, there is level access, a quiet space is provided and there is a charging point for personal assistive technology. Make sure to visit our online programme (there’s a QR code on the poster) where you'll find a detailed breakdown of all the events, workshops and performances as well as QR code links to our Eventbrite booking page.

The initiative began last year following the work of Tavi Stand Up To Racism to develop Tavistock Celebrate Multiculturalism and has grown rapidly due to support from and collaboration with a wide range of local schools, groups, businesses and organisations.

We’ve been working alongside Tavi Youth Cafe, Tavistock Library, West Devon Art Workshops, Printworks, Transition Okehampton, Cornwall and Devon Creative Collective, Diverse Artists Network, Devon Development Education, Afghan Sociological Association, West Devon CVS, Devon Migration and Resettlement, Tavistock Ukrainian Community, Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support, Tavi Peace Group and Learn Devon to name but a few!

Organiser Sam stated, ‘We are thrilled to have this funding, and excited to partner with local organisations, groups and venues to deliver a vibrant festival programme for our community.’ We're always on the look out for new and enthusiastic volunteers as well as professionals from the community sector who would like to work with us to deliver projects with community focused objectives. If you’d like more information about how to get involved with the Respect Fest initiative or would like to talk to us about ways to celebrate your community, get in contact through the Respect Fest 2026 Facebook and Instagram pages or email [email protected].