More sunshine, music and dance ensure Respect attracts record crowds...

The second and final day of the Exeter Respect Festival 2013 proved to be yet another predominantly sunny one, ensuring a further influx of crowds to Exeter's celebration of diversity. Cllr Ian Martin confirmed visitor figures rose to 22,500 over the two days, an impressive increase on last year's attendence and a record since the Festival launched in 1997. There was an overwhelming atmosphere of peace and harmony, with music resounding from all four corners of the park to provide the crowds with a stream of exciting global sounds. And dance played a key role in Sunday's positive vibe, from belly dancing to salsa at Bar Venezia and everything in between.

For the children, there was an abundance of activities... the Scrapstore slide was as popular as yesterday albeit with slightly dishevelled cardboard 'mats', Exeter's Steiner Academy Yurt was packed out for storytelling time and children were as ever enthralled by tales of food and farming by Love Local Food's Kevin Cotter's. Meanwhile, children and adults alike were challenging their balancing abilities on the 'tightrope walk'. 

Drawing together all sections of the community from every ethnic background, the Respect Festival's success can be guaged not on the number of people through the gates, nor by the funds gathered to put on next year's Festival, but feeling of goodwill and by the cultural exchange of ideologies, music, dance and sheer enjoyment of life in this beautiful city.

Feel free to post a blog on this or any other local festival you have enjoyed recently and would like to share with readers here at The Exeter Daily.