A carnival-style atmosphere will return to the streets of a seaside town next summer.
For the first time in more than a decade, a traditional procession will once again take center stage in Lowestoft.
It comes after Lowestoft has been chosen as one of six towns and cities nationally to benefit from “a landmark nationwide project”.
Historic England has announced that next summer the future of our high streets and shopping areas will be celebrated in partnership with Emergency Exit Arts (EEA).
With EEA – the pioneering outdoor arts company famous for their celebrations at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant – teaming up with Historic England and the First CIC Festival of Light, it will see the creation of “a unique carnival parade to celebrate Lowestoft”.
A spokesman for Historic England said: “Hello! Street Fest is an ambitious collaborative project spanning two years, which aims to bring life and vibrancy to shopping areas in six locations across England, including Lowestoft.
“Through street parties and parades, Hi! Street Fest will bring a touch of carnival to every town and city, encouraging local people to come together to create shows that let their creativity run free.”
It will see the EEA working with First Light Festival to partner with the people of Lowestoft to bring their unique brand of memorable events and participatory experiences to the town.
The project aims to reimagine the shopping area, attract visitors and bring people together to celebrate Lowestoft’s culture.
With the concept of Hi! Street Fest open and flexible, it gives space for co-creation in every place.
The spokesman added: “In 2023, after weeks of community outreach and workshops, the project will culminate in a free, spectacular, home-grown procession in Lowestoft on Saturday 17 June 2023.”
As part of the project, there will be an open call for three trained local community producers to participate in a 10-week online training program with the EEA, starting in January.
These Community Makers will learn how to organize projects and events in their area and apply what they’ve learned directly at Hi! Street Fest, with further details about the roles in Lowestoft at eea.org.uk
reaction
Genevieve Christie, CEO of First Light Festival CIC, said: “Our vision is to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent, creativity, landscapes and communities we have here in Lowestoft and Hi! Street Fest will give the whole town a opportunity to do just that.
“As well as the great creative hands-on opportunities the project will offer audiences over the coming months, the resulting parade will be a sensational, carnivalesque opening to our 2023 festival, delivering the amazing street theater that Emergency Exit Arts have become so.known for, while strengthening the links between Lowestoft’s shopping district and our festival site in South Beach.
Supported using public funding from Arts Council England, Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “Hello! Street Fest will give communities from six high streets across the country the chance to connect with their local places and get creative to celebrate what makes them special.”
Daniel Bernstein, CEO of Emergency Exit Arts, said: “We are determined that there are opportunities for hundreds of local people in every country we work with to engage with their high street culture and help create real long-term change in their country.”
History
For more than 40 years, an annual street procession regularly attracted thousands of people to Lowestoft with the parade a major summer spectacle in the town’s calendar.
The last Lowestoft Street Carnival Parade organized by the Friends of Lowestoft Hospital was held at the end of September 2012.
At the time, the parade was held in September to avoid the Olympics – but unfortunately it was rained out.
In 2013 – with less than four weeks to go before the planned procession in August – organizers reluctantly said the 2013 procession would not go ahead due to a lack of participants.
With the Friends of Lowestoft Hospital committee organizing the annual procession through Lowestoft for decades, they called time for their support of the carnival in March 2014.
A walking event ‘Parade on the Prom’ was held in 2016 as part of the Lowestoft Summer Festival.
