Arts and culture festival Lancashire Encounter coming back to Preston

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 Mayor’s Covid Thank You torchlight parade finale on Saturday 2 October.

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).

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.

Out of the Deep Blue – Autin Dance Theatre

Councilor Peter Kelly, Cabinet member for arts at culture at Preston City Council, said: “It feels fantastic to be able to bring Lancashire Encounter back to the city – a festival that has been such a success in the past and we don’t want you to miss a thing.

“The 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.

“The Mayor of Preston’s torchlight parade, acting as the festival’s 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!”

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.