The community parade, new for this year, involved a rolling road closure, with local schools and groups taking part in costume-making and dance workshops in the lead up to the parade. Starting at Boston Road Recreation Ground the parade will head up Southgate, turning onto Eastgate, into Carre Street then into Navigation Yard, finishing on Eastgate Green with some dance performances and other surprises.

Lucy Lumb, Visual Arts Development Coordinator at The Hub said “We have invited local groups and schools to participate in the parade and working with artists from Lumo Workshop and the Hub Dance Team we’re all feeling very positive and excited, it promises to be another fantastic event.”

The programme of performances for 22 June included dance, theatre and walkabouts such as Casson and Friends, Swan in Love, Spring-a-Lings, Handmade Theatre, Feet Off the Ground, Hikapee Theatre, Circus Starlight, Rhubarb Theatre, Dance Free silent disco and more. Finale acts and activities will take place at Eastgate Green, Bristol Arcade, the Riverside Centre, along Southgate and outside Sleaford Museum. There will also be activity outside Sleaford Leisure Centre at East Banks in the form of an Eco Village, at the Nettles arts space further along the river bank and at Cogglesford Mill, putting the river will truly sit at the heart of the
festival.

Community activities:
● A billboard art commission from Sleaford-based Ellie Benton with accompanying exhibition at the Carre Gallery.
● Flags project with Sleaford-based Ruth Burrows.
● Insect trail with Sleaford-based Emily Cartwright and students from Kesteven and
Sleaford High School.
● Kindness tokens installation with locally-based Hannah Price.
● Hub-led craft-making flowers and decorations for Eastgate Green.
● Watermills and windmills workshops and installation with locally-based Mark Clarke.
● Photography exhibition at Cogglesford Mill with Sleaford-based Jon Pear.
● Mishap Theatre’s project with Mosaic Youth Hub.
● Rainbow Stars and Martyn Bignell working together for the parade.
● DJ sets with #4EBT local DJs.
● Music programme to include programming of young bands, folk music
● performances and busking spots around town for acoustic sets and choirs.
● Islamic Centre, St Denys Church, Interflora open day.
● Eco Village activities and stalls at Eastbanks Car Park.
● Unify Dance performance.
● DJ set at the Barge & Bottle.
● Ladies Choir concert in St Denys.
● Youth dance performances.

RiverLight is supported by North Kesteven District Council and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) to strengthen social fabric and foster a sense of local pride and belonging, enhance physical, cultural and social ties and increase access to amenities such as community infrastructure, local green spaces and community-led projects.

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit the UK Shared Prosperity Fund webpage.

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