Loving the alien down at Grange Gardens...

Byline: DAVID OWENS Reporter david.owens@walesonline.co.uk

THE sun was out and lots of fun was had at this year's Grangetown Festival.

Now into its 41st year the festival, held at Grange Gardens, saw hundreds turn out for the community gathering, which this year had a space theme - much to the delight of those both young and old.

There was food, live music, crafts and stalls and despite mixed weather forecasts was very well attended by both festival-goers and stallholders.

"It was a magnificent turn out and we were very lucky with the weather," said Steve Duffy, from Grangetown Community Action, who organise the festival.

"We also had more than 50 stalls, which is a record for the event."

Launched in 1978, the event has found a long-term home at Grange Gardens for the last 15 years.

"It is very much a multicultural festival," said Steve. "People from all walks of life attend. The community really comes together and make a day of it.

"Everybody was brilliantly behaved, and we couldn't do it without all the fantastic volunteers who lend a hand."

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the moon landings and the festival has been working alongside local schools on space-themed projects for the event.

"The schools have been working with Techniquest and Cardiff University's Astronomy department who were involved in the projects," said Steve. "As a result we had lots of kids dressed up as spacemen and aliens having lots of fun at the festival."

CAPTION(S):

The Sow family, mum, Kadem, Aissa, aged 8 months, and Alpha, aged 3, enjoy the train ride

Kirsty Loftus enjoys the day with Anthony the Alien

The children were all given a police helmet to wear and keep at this year's festival

Elizabeth Walsh, Patricia Crossey, and Julie Hann, on their stall collecting for Grangetown Community Garden

Hundreds turned up to enjoy this year's Grangetown Festival at Grangetown Gardens, Cardiffpictures: richard swingler