This is your guide to Slowdown Sunday and how to make the most of day.
CHECKOUT the Corn Exchange. If you’ve never been in the building before it’s a stunner.
We’ve got lots happening inside, it’s all about meeting you’re local artisans, makers, musicians, activists and learning about what they do plus how you can get involved. There’s talks, workshops and music from our friends at Cask Corner hosted by talented Laura Kelly.
Here’s the line-up….
11.00am watch Scicluna Smoothie Demo try a super food smoothie with ingredients from the Scicluna’s Deli. Quoted on BBC radio Sheffield yesterday as one of the best deli’s in the UK.
12.00pm onwards – short talk from Bentley Urban Farm’s very own DoncoDon Warren Draper Don’t forget to sign-up to his veg box scheme and make a seed bomb whilst you’re at it.
12.05pm Live music from Strange – Foot a local 3 piece reggae blues fusion band, think Womad in Donny. Blues guitarist Mike has the best guitar-face in town and rocks double denim as proven in this pic.
1.00pm Meet the Urban Worms discover why it’s the #YearoftheWorm in Doncaster. Anna Vegas of Nottingham’s Urban Worms is given a short talk on the joys of worm compositing.
1.05pm Live performance from Sheffield’s Madame Zucchini – not to be missed. You may remember Madame Zucchini from Britain’s Got Talent, she’s the Queen of Veg. She’s bringing Theresa Maize along, if you fancy a bite, she looks tasty.
1.30pm Acoustic Set from Notts lad Brad Dear – who taken his folk / rock music to festivals including Dot to Dot, Tramlines and Doncaster’s Something To Smile About Festival.
2pm Meet Fiona Cahill of Doncaster’s The Real Junk Food Project find-out about this brilliant national project that saves tons for food from going to the landfill everyday. Join Fiona for cup of tea in our pop-up cafe.
2.45pm – 3.45pm – Jean Christophe Novelli (ADVANCED BOOKING REQUIRED) a mentoring talk from French celebrity chef at The Real Junk Food Pop-Up Cafe in the Corn Exchange. To take part in this event book HERE.
3.40pm Cask Corner Ukulele Group Grande Finale – playing food themed anthems we all know and love.
Other cool stuff happening in the Corn Exchange from 11am – 4pm
Throughout the afternoon you can take part in various workshops too. We’ve got BagLadyBird’s Apron Demo, up-cycled workshops from Karl Scott and Shane Peagram. Abi Neilson will be displaying her stitched banners around the building and teaching some craftivism skills.
Slowfashion and making shit happen….
Local business Knit & Stitch has teamed-up with our Slowfashion revolutionaries Debbie Pulleybank and Rachel Horne, for some mindfulness crochet and pom poms making.
This girl gang will also be joined by Joanna Nurse who is leading on the Donny Suffrage Project, they’ll be vegan an raw snacks available as a tribute to the original suffragettes, who were also vegetarians.
Food Glorious Food…
We’re excited to announce a new food producer will be joining on the day. Gunda Hewitt-Kortava of Ajika Chilly Paste! This super passionate foodie is bringing the traditional chilly spice to the UK market.
Based in Doncaster, Gunda is originally from Abkhazia where Ajika is part of traditional cuisine. It is made largely from red chili peppers, garlic, salt and a mixture of fine dried herbs, which are all ground and mixed together. All these individual elements then work together to create a fine aroma and chili paste that’s packed full of flavour. Welcome to the party Gunda <3
Outside in the Main Marketplace we’ve got…
11.00am – 9.00pm Keep Music Live stage – hosted by Pete Sullivan (founder of Something to Smile About Festival) with support from our friends at the Little Theatre. Meet Pete and his cute pooch. 
We’ve got local Vinyl Junkies on the Decks from 11.00am – 4pm Expect so great soul, reggae ska vibes from Lorraine and Dj Jim the Skin 100% vinyl, Julie Jazz Hands and Dodge.
Food Demos! In the DCLC Catering Unit.
12.00pm -Jean Cristophe Novelli
2.00pm Jean Cristophe Novelli
3.00pm Michael Price
Think Big Live Small…
We’re exploring small living with Vanessa Myatt’s a local nutritionalist who will be showing off her Slow Living Lorry and serving apothecary medicinal teas.
The Pixies (not the band but our local eco-warriors) will be showcasing low impact living in their hand crafted Cosmic Yurt which took 9 months to build using traditional green wood working skills. The round structure of the yurt is designed to bring people and community together and for the last 8 years it travelled across the country inspiring people to live differently.
Inside the Yurt you will find the ‘Loud Library’ a resource of alternative ideas, activism, non violent direct action, skills and crafts. Instruments will be provided for noise making. For relaxation their will be willow dream catchers for people to make and take home and art materials will be available for people to get creative and share their ideas for magic dwellings and the slower life. 
Other activities in the Marketplace include, face painting from Alan and Helen at Open Minds, street art workshop from Breakin’ Beats.
For some great family entertainment Right-Up-Our-Street and Wet Picnic from Winchester will be showcasing “The Lift” and “The Sheds”.
You can find out about brilliant local art projects in “The Sheds”…
In the Mason’s Arms it’s the Folk Festivals ‘Survivors Session” expect a traditional folk sing around with lots on Real Ale on sale too. You’ll also be excited to hear the Jerk pan on, serving authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken.
Finale Slowdown and kick back…
This is where we reclaim the Marketplace, hang-out eat and listen to some brilliant music from these guys…..
More Brad Dear as mentioned above.
River Roots – are an internationally touring acoustic singer-songwriters from the Leeds. Their sound is described as ‘a vibrant mixture of roots and alternative acoustic, with hints of folk and reggae beats, bringing diverse sounds and a playful uplifting vibe to Slowdown Sunday.
Smiling Ivy – A Sheffield band described by Now Then magazine as “a faultless marriage of 2 Tone and third wave ska punk.” If that’s not high enough praise then here’s what BBC Introducing Sheffield had to say: “Love it, love it, love it, love it.”
We finish at 9pm but you can carry on the party at Mason’s Arms, The Queens or Cask Corner.
And finally…
But I just want to say on behalf of Doncopolitan a massive thank you to all our partners DMBC, Visit Doncaster, Right-Up-Our-Street and #TeamDonco.
We hope you enjoy #SlowdownSunday for any enquiries regarding this or future events email doncopolitan@gmail.com.
