First major event in revamped Market Place

Over 500 people have been involved in the creation of lanterns and decorations which will light up the town during the Festival of Community this Saturday 19^th October.

It follows improvements made with part of a £4.1m Grantham Future High Streets Fund awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The free festival will take place throughout the day and into the evening and will include exhibitions from local artists, street performances, a community stage and light show projections that will fill the Grantham Market Place.

Cllr Paul Stokes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming everyone into Grantham to celebrate the town’s rich heritage and community spirit.

“The Festival of Community will be a busy day showcasing everything that the town has to offer, from our local artists and performers to the fantastic creativity shown during lantern making workshops in the summer.”

The daytime celebrations start at 10am with a pop-up art exhibition from where local Grantham artists will exhibit their work and chat with visitors about their artistic practice.

Over on the Community Stage, the Harrowby Singers will perform from 10.30am as part of a series of performances showcasing talented artists from the area.

Further performances include:

• 10.30am – Lewis Pittam

• 11am – Tobias Robinson

• 11.30am – Grantham Amateur Dramatics Group

• 12pm – Grantham School of Dancing

• 12.30pm – St Wulfram’s Church Choir

• 1pm – Hermione Johnson

• 1.30pm – InVoice

Street performances from Boondog Balladeers. Earth Bound Misfits, Artizani and Mishap Theatre will appeal to the whole family with Grantham-inspired stories and songs.

Heading into the evening, light projections will illuminate Lindpet House with stories of Grantham’s Past, Present and Future.

Visitors will have the chance to play with the spectacle of sound with The Fabuloso Organ, an interactive electronic instrument that enables the public to create their own soundscape.

The Punjabi Roots Academy will bring rhythmic celebration to the evening with a DJ set and Dhol drumming throughout the evening. The group will also lead the main event, a community parade, through the town from 7pm.

The Community Parade will walk from Westgate to the Market Cross as a celebration of the heritage and community of Grantham today. It will feature handmade lanterns and animal decorations created with supported of Grantham Arts CIC during summer craft workshops.