PEOPLE are being urged to give peace a chance in Warwick.
A new two-day peace festival is being held at St Mary’s Church on Friday (May 8) and Saturday (May 9), inviting residents, visitors, schools and local organisations to come together in a shared celebration of peace, diversity and collective action.
Designed as a positive antidote to the overwhelming sense of despair that many feel in the face of global challenges − from the climate crisis to conflict and injustice − the Warwick Festival of Peacebuilding aims to spotlight the power of local communities to inspire change.
A panel discussion featuring experts on a diverse range of important issues including climate, social equality, disabled rights, sustainable housing and ethnic equality will answer questions from youth representatives from across the region on Friday.
On Saturday, the festival moves outdoors to the College Garden behind St Mary’s. Local groups working for justice, sustainability and community wellbeing − both in Warwick and around the world − will showcase their projects and invite visitors to get involved.
There will be community stalls and interactive displays, performances and live music, peace talks and informal conversations and creative activities for all ages.
Children from local schools have worked hard to produce their own Peace Trees. These will be situated around the College Garden on the day.
Younger visitors will also get the chance to win their own Peace Bear by visiting stalls and asking a simple set question relating to each organisation.
Vicar of St Mary’s, Reverend Canon Angus Aagaard, said: “On Saturday May 9, the College Garden will feature a whole community of people. We’ve got 17 stalls, from Quakers to Justice for Palestinians, to Amnesty International, to all sorts of fantastic groups. There will be refreshments for all the family, fun for all the family; speakers, performers and poetry, and a real chance to celebrate what’s really important in our community, which is about being of a people of peace.”
Visit www.stmaryswarwick.org.uk/news/warwick-announces-new-peace-festival-for-2026 for more details.
