Encounter Festival Announces Spectacular Torchlight Procession for 2024

Preston's Encounter Festival is set to light up the city with its spectacular Torchlight Procession on Saturday evening, 21 September 2024.

This year's procession promises to impress with a range of performers, starting at Moor Park and culminating in a dazzling fireworks display at 9pm on The Flag Market.

Leading the procession this year is the newly commissioned all-female brass band, BRAZEN. This group celebrates brilliant women brass players, showcasing their extensive experience and talent.

Councillor Hindle, Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said:

"The Torchlight Procession is a highlight of Encounter Festival, showcasing the diverse talent and vibrant culture of Preston. We are thrilled to host both returning and new acts, whilst the community comes together for what promises to be an unforgettable and hugely entertaining evening."

The procession also features The Lumens, a stilt duo adorned in colour-changing fibre optic lights and mirrored suits while Preston City Mela and the Caribbean Carnival will inject their energy brightly coloured costumes to the procession.

The Torchlight Procession will also feature traditional performance groups such as Hellfyre Magpie Fire Border Morris Team and Rivington North West Morris Dancers, alongside the new addition of some of the best Carnival Morris troupes.

Jenisha Patel's Bollywood Dance School, Worldwise Samba, Jazz Swing Dance, Bay Beat,and Cacophony Arkestra will also take part, making it eclectic and engaging.

Various city shop windows will be transformed into story boxes to showcase 'Ribble of Dreams' installations, an interactive collaboration by theatre company imitating the dog and the people of Preston.

From 6.30pm, you can also enjoy a drink and a dance on The Flag Market to the wonderful DJs Soulhouse Avenue and Buddha. This is also a great opportunity to sample Preston's bars and eateries and all they have to offer.

Visit the Encounter Festival Website for more information about the Torchlight Procession and the full Encounter Festival programme.

About Encounter Festival

Encounter Festival is an authentic voice for Preston, celebrating the breadth of the County's cultural offer with high quality and high profile arts.

Taking place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, Encounter Festival sees the city of Preston buzzing with life and alight with creativity.

The past Encounters have seen an array of spectacular performances, inspiring arts and impressive music, bringing spectators to their feet.

About 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.

About Arts Council England 

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture.

We have set out our strategic vision in Let's Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences.

We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.

Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support.

We are also one of the bodies administering the Government's unprecedented £1.96 billion Culture Recovery Funds.