A Celebration of Community: Nearly 5,000 Gathered at Summer Carnival 2026

2026-06-05

On 30 May, the third "Summer Carnival·Sea Turtle Music Festival" was held as scheduled at the Wellington College Education (China) - Hangzhou.

On the day, nearly 5,000 pupils, parents and guests entered the campus. Under the theme "No Age for Joy", they took part in an open-campus experience centred on music, play, interaction and shared time together.

From stage performances to hands-on attractions, from a diverse marketplace to cross-cultural communication, the campus was briefly "reactivated" into an open public space — somewhere to linger, express oneself freely, and encounter others without constraint.

Rather than a carnival in the conventional sense, the event felt more like a lived exploration of how we might share everyday life. In a relaxed atmosphere, people temporarily set aside labels and roles, reconnecting within a familiar school environment and, in doing so, re-examining what "happiness" can mean.

﹝No Age For Joy﹞

Stage Performances:

Giving Voice and

Making Growth Visible

When Music Begins

Everyone Finds Their Place

If the carnival is a flow of emotion, then the stage is its brightest point of expression.

Under the professional guidance of teachers from the Performing Arts Department, pupils took to the stage in a range of formats — including solo performances, choirs, piano, violin and drum. The poise and quiet confidence displayed on stage stand as the most vivid testament to Wellington's holistic education.

▲

The pupil-initiated charity "Dream House" at Wellington has long been committed to meaningful and compassionate social action, with its partnership with Daciyan Primary School standing out as particularly impactful. This year, we were delighted to invite their Kunqu Opera troupe to take to the stage, using art to bridge urban and rural communities and action to convey kindness.

Some stepped into the spotlight for the first time, while others returned to a familiar stage. What they shared, however, was a willingness to express passion in their own way.

In an era shaped by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, we continue to believe that what truly defines future readiness is not knowledge alone, but communication, creativity and inner confidence. Each moment on stage stands as a tangible expression of this whole-person approach to education.

﹝No Age For Joy﹞

Let Play Bring

Our Community Together

Finding Simple Joy

Through Play

Stepping away from the stage, the carnival moved into a more relaxed everyday rhythm. Children ran, paused, and set off again across the campus.

In the "Block Kingdom", they built imagination; in the challenge of "Tetris", they focused and thought carefully; in the VR ski experience, they encountered speed and balance in a virtual world; and in interactive "Mind-Controlled Racing", they explored the fascinating boundaries of technology.

For many parents, it was also a rare moment of pause: stepping out of defined roles, running alongside their children once more, and rediscovering the meaning of companionship through shared laughter.

Here, joy became simple again — and therefore more real.

﹝No Age For Joy﹞

Over 60 Stalls

Forming an Open

"Micro Global Village"

Where Crowds Gather

and Stalls Come Alive

The stage and play areas set the scene, but the 60-plus stalls across the campus made up the most vibrant part of the carnival.

International street food, creative crafts, and parent–child activities were found throughout the campus. Visitors moved through greetings in different languages, building connections over a drink, a handmade piece, and a shared conversation.

There was no forced sense of "eventfulness" — only naturally emerging exchange. Families from diverse cultural backgrounds shared a single space and a relaxed afternoon.

Without noticing it, the campus became an open "micro city", where the act of meeting itself became the most meaningful experience.

Here, relationships are reconnected. Expression is encouraged, exploration is welcomed, and joy is no longer defined by age.

When the invitation "No Age for Joy" is truly answered, what emerges is a community that is more open, more gentle, and full of possibility.

And this, ultimately, reflects the kind of education Wellington has long believed in: one that takes shape in the real world, and grows through human connection.

A Celebration of Community: Nearly 5,000 Gathered at Summer Carnival 2026

2026-06-05

On 30 May, the third "Summer Carnival·Sea Turtle Music Festival" was held as scheduled at the Wellington College Education (China) - Hangzhou.

﹝No Age For Joy﹞

Stage Performances:

Giving Voice and

Making Growth Visible

When Music Begins

Everyone Finds Their Place

If the carnival is a flow of emotion, then the stage is its brightest point of expression.

▲

Some stepped into the spotlight for the first time, while others returned to a familiar stage. What they shared, however, was a willingness to express passion in their own way.

﹝No Age For Joy﹞

Let Play Bring

Our Community Together

Finding Simple Joy

Through Play

Stepping away from the stage, the carnival moved into a more relaxed everyday rhythm. Children ran, paused, and set off again across the campus.

Here, joy became simple again — and therefore more real.

﹝No Age For Joy﹞

Over 60 Stalls

Forming an Open

"Micro Global Village"

Where Crowds Gather

and Stalls Come Alive

The stage and play areas set the scene, but the 60-plus stalls across the campus made up the most vibrant part of the carnival.

There was no forced sense of "eventfulness" — only naturally emerging exchange. Families from diverse cultural backgrounds shared a single space and a relaxed afternoon.

Without noticing it, the campus became an open "micro city", where the act of meeting itself became the most meaningful experience.

Here, relationships are reconnected. Expression is encouraged, exploration is welcomed, and joy is no longer defined by age.

When the invitation "No Age for Joy" is truly answered, what emerges is a community that is more open, more gentle, and full of possibility.

And this, ultimately, reflects the kind of education Wellington has long believed in: one that takes shape in the real world, and grows through human connection.