Encounter Festival is set to return to the heart of Preston for its tenth year.
Showcasing local voices and talent, the festival continues to welcome nationally and internationally recognised performers.
Taking place across key city locations, including the Flag Market, Harris Street, and Birley Street, visitors can look forward to performances, experiences, and opportunities to connect, explore, and create.
To mark this milestone year, the festival will place a special focus on themes of wellbeing, climate action, and youth creativity. Some of the confirmed programme highlights include:
Singing for Creative Health: A County of Song collaboration with Lancashire choirs around the health and wellbeing benefits of communal singing.
Climate and Community Focus: Visit the Throne of Pledges on the Flag Market and take your place in a striking installation created with Preston’s climate action teams. Let’s Grow Preston will also be part of the festivities, championing green spaces and sustainable living.
Rise and Lead by Wot Wud U Do CIC: A collection of inspiring games and films created by local young people about themes that matter to them.
Spectacular Street Theatre: Expect song, dance, music and theatre from Encounter’s street theatre performances with interactive piece Hodge Podge enlivening the Flag Market while Raggle Taggle Arts return with The Rhythm of the Vardo. Encounter is working with the Without Wall network again, to bring the best of the England’s outdoor theatre to Preston, with two of the network’s shows programmed: Closer to my Dreams and Ancient Giants.
Live Music: Dance, song, and rhythm will pulse through The Flag Market with performances from Encounter Voices, The Nia Reggae Band, Urooj Qawwal and Preston’s own County Pilots.
To draw the festival to a close, the Torchlight Procession will feature a towering puppet to celebrate the legacy of football trailblazer Arthur Wharton. In collaboration with Preston North End Community and Education Trust, the puppet will be brought to life by a team of artists and community participants, serving as a moving tribute to the world’s first black professional footballer.
The commission for designing the puppet has been awarded to a talented lead artist, Sara Blackburn from Wonder Made Wild, who will make it along with assistant Puppet Makers Alex Herring and Haneefah Patel.
Sara Blackburn, Creative Director of Wonder Made Wild, said: “I’m honoured to be leading on the creation of the Arthur Wharton puppet and can’t wait to get started on this ambitious project. I’m really inspired by Arthur’s many achievements and talents and look forward to celebrating them in the build.
“As an artist from Preston myself, it’s also great to see the city championing local creativity and talent, and I’m thrilled to have Alex and Haneefah on board. Together we hope to do Arthur and Preston proud!”
Michael Barrett, Heritage Co-ordinator for Preston North End Community and Education Trust, said: “This is such a fantastic project. The story of Arthur Wharton forms a big part of our Invincibles Heritage Project at Preston North End Community and Education Trust.
“In March 2024, we unveiled a blue plaque at Deepdale in Arthur’s honour, and the making of the puppet presents numerous opportunities to expand on the work we’ve done so far. Arthur is a hugely important figure, not just in the early history of PNE, but football as a whole.
“His role as a pioneer for black sportspeople leaves a legacy. We’re very proud of our connection to Arthur and delighted to be a part of this new initiative.”
Read more: Incredible new 80-metre long mural captures proud history of Preston North End
A spectacular fireworks display will light up the city in a final celebration to remember.
Councillor Hindle, Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts, said: “This year’s Encounter Festival programme is packed with bold creativity, diverse voices, and powerful community-led work. We can’t wait to welcome audiences of all ages to experience Preston in full celebratory mode.”
To find out more, visit the Encounter Festival website.
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