Brand new, Streets Apart Festival, will bring life and vibrancy to Wigan Town Centre on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July with a unique outdoor carnival. Audiences can expect; a parade, live music, DJ’s, catwalks, live performances, as well as a visit from two, larger than life, curious characters.
Streets Apart Festival is the culmination of a three-year cultural partnership programme, ‘Streets Apart’, which forms part of Historic England’s ‘High Streets Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme’ - a nationwide cultural project helping to make high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time.
The programme is led by The Old Courts in partnership with Wigan Council and 6 other borough-based organisations who are all working hard behind the scenes to pin down the final details.
The two-day celebration is also part of an ambitious collaboration project, with aim of connecting residents together to celebrate the place where they live.
Kicking off the festival at Mesnes Park on Saturday 8th July is a spectacular parade which will fill the Town Centre’s streets with carnival vibes.
The parade celebrations will continue to King Street, with a street party that’ll run into the evening. Visitors can expect to see a family-friendly programme, including roaming street performers, art battles, break-dancers, family catwalk extravaganza and more.
As the sun sets, the celebration will continue into the early evening with DJs and dancers with a headline act to be announced in the coming weeks.
On the second day, Sunday 9th July, activities will be more community focused and involve local societies hosting historical walks, performances from local talent and craft stalls. The festival aims to champion difference and alternative art forms. Exceptional artists from the Manchester drag and vogue scene will attend alongside local graffiti artists who will create temporary body art for festival goers.
King Street businesses will be partnering with the festival with premises licenses extending during these hours to see King Street acting as one large outdoor venue. Food and drink will be available to purchase from King Street businesses to consume on the street.
More information will be released as the festival develops including ways for businesses and the community to get involved.
Streets Apart Festival was made possible with financial support from Historic England, Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Wigan Council, Granada Foundation and The Old Courts. It has been produced by the Street’s Apart Consortium: The Old Courts, Wigan Council, Healthy Arts, Stolen Thread Productions, Wigan Little Theatre, Wigan Local History and Heritage Society, Wigan Buildings Preservation Trust and Wigan Youth Zone.
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