St Leonards Rocks! | |
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| Festival season is here. On Saturday 14th July, St Leonards is hosting its second summer festival - and we’re all invited to the party! This vibrant day resounding with colourful dance and music is a wonderful boost for the town, which has plenty of reason to celebrate. | |
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The St Leonards Festival promises to be a full-filled summer celebration for the whole family, with entertainment for everyone. If last year’s event is anything to go by and the sun makes an appearance, the party should go with a swing. “Last year saw the festival spirit embraced by thousands, who enjoyed a wonderfully peaceful and harmonious day, bathed in glorious sunshine. This year’s event has a theme of dance and promises to be even better…” says Gensing and Central St Leonards Community Forum. The action kicks off at noon - with four areas of entertainment running parallel: Kings Road, Warrior Square main stage, a children’s marquee on Warrior Square, and the seafront. Kings Road will be buzzing with market stalls for the day, the street hung with bunting and decorations, lined with local traders selling their wares. There will be plenty of delicious food for sale and street performances to enjoy. Sambalanco’s exuberant drumming, DAB youth theatre’s dramatisation of the history of Kings Road, Dot Comedy’s mad-cap humour and the spectacular Chinese Lion and Fan Dancers. At the station end of Kings Road a stage will feature performances from across the globe: “Congolese Dancers move to the dizzy beat of Soukous music and there is a rare chance to watch Burundi and Rwandese and traditional Nepalese dancing. You can even join in with the Salsa Dancers! Local children will also perform on the Kings Road stage as part of Gizmo.” Activities on the Kings Road continue until around 6pm. |
Down on the seafront, opposite Warrior Square Gardens, Active Hastings will be tempting us all to join in and get active with organised beach-basketball, sea canoeing and athletic events. In the Children’s marquee, there’s plenty to keep the kids happy. Mr Pineapple Head will be amusing the audience in an interactive show, there will be workshops in drumming and Bollywood dance and Crik the Croc will provide the equipment for kids to make puppets which will culminate in a puppet show. Warrior Square Gardens is the main venue for the festival with the stage hosting an international feast of dance and music entertainment. The day hots up at noon with a Brazilian carnival band; folk duo Astral Gypsies followed by African Master Drummer Nana Tsiboe and Glo-bang Youth Drummers. Mid afternoon sees popular local band Colonel Mustard roll out their original tracks and towards evening, The Kytes will play some classic favourites. Sujata Banerjee’s fuses Indian Kathak dance and Spanish Flamenco and a Chinese lion and fan dancers follow during the evening. As darkness falls, 80s’ Reggae sensation Aswad will be pleasing the crowd with some popular tunes, such as ‘Don’t Turn Around’ and ‘Shine’. You can also watch local skaters and BMXers hone their skills on the skate ramp. Or you could try on an inflatable Sumo Wrestler outfit! |
“The St Leonard’s Festival is free and suitable for families. Come along and enjoy the fun from midday on Saturday 14th July.” The only shame is that we can’t be in all three entertainment areas at once! St Leonards Festival is an alcohol free event For more information or an event programme contact Gensing and Central St Leonards Community Information Centre at 16 Silchester Road, St Leonards between 9.30am and 1pm or phone: |
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