Lancashire Encounter will be back this September with an extended festival including performance, music, street theatre and art.
Beginning on Friday 17 September, the event will take place at sites across Preston city centre before ending with the Mayorâs Covid Thank You torchlight parade finale on Saturday 2 October.
Read more: Torchlight parade to be held through Preston to thank key workers
Activities will include an illuminated giant called Jabberwocky, comedy, puppet shows, music, dance and virtual reality. There will also be a Family Picnic in Winckley Square Gardens on Sunday 19 September.
The final touches are being put to the festival programme, but there will be opportunities to get involved, for instance with a community choir or a Salsa dance workshop.
Hosting many of the Lancashire Encounter events will be the MET (Mobile Event Tent).
Read more: New mobile venue tent to host events across Preston city centre
The MET will pop up around Preston city centre, mainly in the Harris Quarter by Preston Markets, and host events such as exhibitions, workshops, gigs, and a variety of performances.
Councilor Peter Kelly, Cabinet member for arts at culture at Preston City Council, said: âIt feels fantastic to be able to bring Lancashire Encounter back to the city â a festival that has been such a success in the past and we donât want you to miss a thing.
âThe programme is extremely diverse with a very exciting line-up of local, regional and national artists and groups, making Lancashire Encounter festival a truly worthy legacy of the Preston Guild.
âThe Mayor of Prestonâs torchlight parade, acting as the festivalâs finale, on Saturday 2 October will be a sight for sore eyes after such a difficult time for everyone and we’ll be celebrating the resilience of our communities and key workers with fun, music and an almighty fire-breathing dragon!â
For more information, visit the Lancashire Encounter website.
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Will you be going to Lancashire Encounter? Let us know in the comments.