PETERBOROUGH CELEBRATES FESTIVAL FULL LINE UP

The full exciting line up has been revealed for the fourth Peterborough Celebrates Festival at Ferry Meadows and there’s a jam-packed schedule with something for everyone across the weekend.

It’s all about celebrating everything special about Peterborough and its people with loads of free daytime fun and some ticketed evening entertainment.

Kick off your festival weekend on Friday May 16 with an unforgettable silent disco experience in the Big Top. Grab your multi-channel headphones and hit the dance floor as three live DJs spin the tunes. Expect high-energy vibes, glowing lights and a magical festival atmosphere that’ll keep you dancing like nobody’s listening! Choose from a family session 5pm-6.30pm for age 4+ or a later session 7.30pm-9.30pm for 12+.

The full FREE festival begins on Saturday May 17 with a packed programme of performances, sights, sounds and activities to excite all festival-goers. Starting at 11am and running until 8.30pm, performance highlights include the spectacular acrobatic group No Fit State with their show Bamboo and local Norfolk contemporary dance duo Vanhulle with their breathtaking show Orb – both at the Hay Bale Stage.

The new Centre Stage in the Bar Tent will see a wonderful range of local musical talent such as young singer and guitarist George Elliot, musical duo JP & The Hat and Zoe Oswald, wowing audiences with her loop-pedal artistry.

The Big Top features performances from students at Peterborough College, Teddi the Drag Queen and Friends and a drama performance co-created by young people and commissioned by The Peterborough Cultural Alliance.

The Community Stage line up is packed with performances from community groups such as festival favourites Lucy’s Pop Choir, Bharat Hindu Samaj, Ritu Ranga, Wansford Ukelele Folk and two up and coming bands featured by BBC Introducing.

The day comes to a glorious close with the toe-tapping bhangra beats of Punjabi Roots Academy, bringing their East Meets West Dance Party to the festival in a joyful finale, now part of the FREE festival line up thanks to a little extra sponsorship!

On Sunday May 18, the festival begins at 10am with Rise and Shine Yoga on the Community Stage followed by music and performances from local groups such as Zumba Kids, Encore Dance, Peterborough Filipino Folk Dance group, and Peterborough Rock Choir.

The Hay Bale Stage sees local performance poet Mark Grist bringing his Big Box Bonanza of poetry, stories and literacy fun to delight families, as well as the amazing all-women dance group Feet off the Ground with their show Turning Point on a rotating stage. At 3.50pm, following the success of last year, the festival finale will be marked with a traditional Hindu Holi Colour ceremony where the public will be invited to throw coloured paints and streamers in joyful celebration – a fitting end to a weekend of celebrating our city.

Alongside the wide range of performances on the Community Stage, Big Top, Hay Bale Stage and Centre Stage, there will be walkabout acts around the festival site including rainbow stilt walkers and dazzling Flutterbies from APUS Theatre.

There is so much more to discover across the festival site throughout the weekend too. Take part in have-a-go sporting activities including climbing, archery, martial arts, rugby and football.

You can have fun on the fairground rides and find out more about different Peterborough community groups and organizations. You can get stuck into art and craft creations with Peterborough Presents in the Creative Dome and admire the thousands of decorated butterflies that have been created by schools and community groups across the city in our community ‘Flutter of Butterflies’ installation, sponsored by  Allison Homes.

There’s also the chance to find out more about Nene Park Trust and what the charity does 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 (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, please visit www.peterboroughcelebratesfestival.co.uk