St Leonards Festival 2017

Planning begins for 13th St Leonards Festival

Hastings Borough Council has confirmed that the 2018 St Leonards Festival will take place on Saturday 30 June, in Warrior Square and Kings Road.

The free family and community festival will be returning for its 13th year running, focusing on cultural diversity and featuring local performers alongside national and international artists on the main stage in Warrior Square.

Carre Curieux at St Leonards Festival 2016

The contract for organising the festival has been awarded to local events producers, 18 Hours, who have produced the festival six times since it began in 2006.

“We’ll be programming arts, music and performance which reflects and inspires the local community, with something for everyone, whatever their age or background,” said director Mandy Curtis. “The festival will extend into the evening once again and we’ll bring back a well-known band to round off the day, as in the festival’s early years, when bands like Aswad, Maroon Town, The Selector and The Real Thing went down a storm into the evening.”

“The festival has become an important part of St Leonards’ identity over the years,” said Cllr Kim Forward, the council’s lead member for culture. “It fosters community and cultural bonding, especially as regeneration continues to transform the town, and it’s always a fantastic day out.”

The Kings Road market, run by Anton Windsor, will be the other main attraction at the festival, with its own stage, food and craft stalls. There will also be activities along the sea front, fringe performances and activities in local bars, cafes and venues and a giant carnival parade, called ‘Flying Together’, in conjunction with Hastings Thrives and local schools.

Anyone interested in taking part in the St Leonards Festival 2018 as a stallholder, performer, volunteer, sponsor or supporter should email office@18hours.org.uk.

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