St Leonards Festival and Big Day Out Saturday 13 July 2013

St Leonards Festival and Big Day Out

The question on everyone’s lips has been, “Will there be a St Leonards Festival this summer?” Now HOT’s Erica Smith can share the good news!

The answer is YES! On Saturday 13 July the St Leonards Festival will happen and it’s bigger than ever before, with events not only in Warrior Square, but on the seafront by the new beach cafe, with an arts market and beach activities alongside Marine Court, plus a spectacular Festival Market returning to the Kings Road!

This year the St Leonards Festival and Big Day Out is the result of collaborative working between the newly formed St Leonards Town Team, Gensing and Central St Leonards Community Forum, St Leonards Business Association and Hastings Borough Council.

The Eat Global food village in Warrior Square will be full of tempting treats!

Erica Smith, chair of the St Leonards Town Team (and a member of the HOT team), says: “In order for the festival to be a total success, the most important element is the community – not just to attend the free events, but to volunteer to be stewards, to perform on the stages, busk in the market or take out a stall for the day.”

The community forum is organising the St Leonards Festival events in Warrior Square. Busy planning the event is its new chair Sharon Farrell, who says: “As always, the St Leonards Festival is a multi-cultural celebration by, and for, the local community, with live music, dance, a family and children’s area, not forgetting our community information stands and this year a fabulous ‘Eat Global’ village with food from all over the world. The festival is a free, family-friendly, alcohol-free event. Come along and join us, it’s going to be a fun-filled day with loads going on – not just the festival on the gardens.”

Musicians and performers wanted
Musician Terry Drinkwater, a son of St Leonards and HBC regeneration co-ordinator for the area, is in charge of managing the stage in Warrior Square Gardens. He would love to hear from local musicians and performers who would like to play on the stage – and to busk in the market and seafront areas. If you are interested, please contact Terry by email: TDrinkwater@hastings.gov.uk.

Children’s centre volunteers at a past St Leonards Festival.

Stewards wanted
One of Sharon’s jobs is to recruit a team of stewards to make sure the day runs smoothly. “If you would like to help out and join our team, we’d love to hear from you!” she says. “You can email to office@gcsl.org.uk or message us on our St Leonards Festival Facebook page.”

Stallholders wanted
The Festival Market in Kings Road is being organised by local entrepreneur and St Leonards Business Association member Anton Burton. “I’m planning a real mix of stalls for the market – including arts and crafts, eats and treats, clothing, music and fun things for the children,” he says. “If you would like to have a stall for the day, I’d love to hear from you.” You can contact Anton on 07927 568319 or stleonardsmarket@live.co.uk. Applications need to be submitted before Monday 10 June.

The Festival Market will be the first of the weekly markets in St Leonards organised by Anton on behalf of the St Leonards Town Team. “My intention for the regular Saturday market is to offer local residents a range of goods which aren’t already available in the local shops, such as fresh local fish, delicious cheeses, household items, garden plants and shrubs and clothing.”

Radiator Arts crazy bike (image from Coastal Currents website).

Christine Mbaye from Hastings Arts Forum is co-ordinating an arts market along the seafront railings near Azur. There will also be a workshop and local artist Emily Johns will be running activities for children in the Arts Forum galleries. Other traders from Marine Court will also be making the day special, with promises of crazy bikes from High Tide Cycles and all sorts of seaside fun.

There will also be family activities on offer beside the new beach cafe on the sea front below Warrior Square. The beach café proprietor, Debbie Barlow, said, “I am really looking forward to 13 July. It really does promise to be a Big Day Out for St Leonards!”

Also in: Community Arts