With just over two weeks to go until the exciting Peterborough Celebrates Festival returns to Ferry Meadows for its second year, Nene Park Trust reveals the full festival line up. Discover a jam-packed schedule of performances and activities, with something for everyone across the weekend.
Stephanie Peachey, Head of Visitor Engagement for Nene Park Trust says, “We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the festival site and can promise you a feel-good weekend which celebrates our great city and diverse communities. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for sunshine over the weekend – but whatever the weather there will be a fabulous programme of performances and activities for all to enjoy.”
The festival kicks off on Friday May 19 with an uplifting Singing Schools workshop in the afternoon, followed by a performance for friends and family of participating school children.
The public launch of the festival will be at 5.30pm with drumming from Punjabi Roots, community performances and fairground rides, food and drink available on the festival site.
Big Top will open its sides to lucky cinema ticket-holders at 6pm with the sing-a-long screening of The Greatest Showman starting at 6.30pm, complete with ringmaster and BSL signer. This cinema event is sold out but keep an eye out for news of any last minute ticket availability.
Saturday May 20 offers a packed schedule of performances, sights, sounds and activities to excite all festival-goers. Starting at 11am and running until 8pm, highlights include the spectacular dance-circus group Motionhouse, performing their breathtaking show WILD on a purpose-built stage; Autin Dance Theatre with their show Out of the Deep Blue, complete with giant sea puppet; Ensonglopedia, a family show with songs; Eastern Angles performing their Medieval Miracles; Q Productions taking over the Big Top with their Family Vox cabaret show and Xidus Pain, the rap performance artist, on the main festival stage.
Alongside these professional groups, enjoy performances from community groups such as Bharat Hindu Samaj, East Timorese Association, local pianist Susnato Mallick and students from Peterborough College.
The Sunday festival programme runs from 10am until 4pm, beginning with Rise and Shine yoga on the main stage and followed by music from local groups such as Abbey Ukes, Peterborough Flute Choir and soprano Gabriella Pineda-Rodrigues, bringing her ever-popular repertoire of Disney songs. Motionhouse will be performing WILD again and dance group Vanhulle bring their show Dovetail to delight the festival crowd.
Alongside the wide range of performances there is so much more to discover across the festival site throughout the weekend. Take part in have-a-go sporting activities in the ‘Be Active’ zone, explore the community Colour Cubes, admire the thousands of flowers that have been created by schools and community groups across the city in the ‘Field of Colour’, meet some of the sheep that graze the Nene Park Rural Estate and soak up the festival atmosphere with food and drink from a diverse range of vendors.
Parking for the festival will be available onsite at Ferry Meadows this year (parking charges apply) with FREE parking offered at Railworld Wildlife Haven in the city centre. Festival-goers parking at Railworld will be able to catch a shuttle train with the Nene Valley Railway for £2 per person, with trains running throughout Saturday and Sunday.
For the full line up for the festival as well as FAQs and a festival map, please visit www.peterboroughcelebratesfestival.co.uk