St Leonards Festival Returns
TOBY BULA-EDGE
Warrior Square Gardens will come alive on 11 July from 12.00pm-5.00pm with the annual St Leonards Festival and Community Parade along the seafront at 3.00pm. It promises to be an energetic and diverse celebration – and all for free.
The variety of St Leonards as a community will be echoed in the variety of performances: a mix of roaming events and stage-based displays. One of the ‘walkabout’ acts is ‘Enchanted Flower Globe’, an engaging new act from festival regulars,The Show Globe. The globe contains Floris, a performer who interacts with the audience and who is “the enthusiastic keeper of a garden, living inside this magical and unique mobile microclimate”.
The UK African Acrobats will be flying around while Xena Flame shows off her impressive Hula Hooping prowess and encourages kids of all ages to join in. Drumming – an essential at any Hastings’ event – will include the Raven Drummers, Sambalanco and Section 5 Drummers as they open the show with a drumming circle. The afternoon’s entertainment will be completed with musicians Yasmien Huband and Erin Colley.
The Ribbon Tunnel is a new event for this year’s festival – an interactive walk-through installation promising bright colour and movement.
On top of all that, an array of activities will be happening throughout the day. Inside Richard Storybeard’s cosy yurt, families can enjoy some storytelling, while in the workshop marquee, there will be craft activities. Children will be able to make animal-themed items to take on the parade and visitors are encouraged to come along in animal-themed costumes or creations for this year’s parade.
St Leonards Festival Committee Chair, Aretha George Tooley, says: “St Leonards Festival is such a special moment in our year. It brings people together in a way that feels joyful, creative and full of heart. Every performer, every volunteer and every visitor who joins us helps create something truly uplifting for our community. We cannot wait to welcome everyone back to Warrior Square Gardens for a day that celebrates the spirit of St Leonards and its community.”
The event is free of charge, free of alcohol, family friendly and accessible.
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