Lowestoft: Dates revealed for First Light Festival return

After a triumphant weekend return last year, as 35,000 people attended First Light Festival 2022 - more than the inaugural event in 2019 - organisers have announced that the free summer solstice celebration of culture, creativity and community will return to Lowestoft's South Beach.

First Light Festival 2022. (Image: Newsquest)

The First Light Festival will take centre stage in Lowestoft once more over the weekend of Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18.

First Light Festival 2023. (Image: First Light Festival CIC)

Organised by First Light CIC, and inspired by the cycles of the sun, the festival will include an extended programme on the Sunday.

First Light Festival 2023. (Image: First Light Festival CIC)

Running from noon to sundown on Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, it will also feature a dawn sunrise programme of arts from 3.30am on Sunday morning.

First Light Festival 2023. (Image: First Light Festival CIC)

Additional late-night events will also be held this year, taking the celebration to a number of different Lowestoft venues - with details and tickets to be announced soon.

First Light Festival 2023. (Image: First Light Festival CIC)

Locals are being urged to get involved with this year’s festival - through two exciting musician call-outs and a large-scale community opening parade project.

For those travelling to the festival, wild beach camping pitches are now on sale and Campervan Tickets are coming soon.

'Get involved'

Genevieve Christie, CEO of First Light Festival CIC, said: "We’re thrilled to announce our 2023 dates, along with exciting news on some of our upcoming projects.

Genevieve Christie, CEO of First Light Festival (Image: Archant)

"We hope that everyone in Lowestoft will have the chance to get involved with this year’s First Light, whether that is contributing to our parade, playing on a stage or soaking up the festival atmosphere and all it has to offer."

Craig Rivett, East Suffolk Council's cabinet member for economic development, said: "We are delighted that the First Light Festival is returning for another year, and our three-year investment of £500,000 demonstrates our commitment to the event.

Craig Rivett, East Suffolk Council. (Image: East Suffolk Council)

"This is great news for Lowestoft and we cannot wait for another fantastic 48 hours on the beach."

Bobby Bennett, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for equality and communities, said: "Suffolk County Council is pleased to work closely with the First Light Festival.

Bobby Bennett (Image: Simon Lee Photography Suffolk UK)

"Events like this support economic growth, which everyone can benefit from, improving health, care and wellbeing and supporting public services."

How you could play at First Light 2023

Building on the success of last year's New Dawn stage which featured 22 emerging musical talents aged 14 to 25 from Suffolk and Norfolk, the festival is once again inviting young musicians to apply to play over the solstice weekend.

First Light Festival 2022. (Image: Newsquest)

New for 2023, the festival will also feature a second open call-out - Playbreak - which offers musicians working, living and gigging in Lowestoft the chance to play a set in front of a home crowd under the midsummer sun.

First Light Festival 2022. (Image: Newsquest)

Both call-outs will be judged by panels of leading industry experts, with headline slots on the main Sunlight stage also up for grabs.

Applications to New Dawn and Playbreak are now open, and close on February 20.

Community workshops

As part of a festival project in conjunction with Hi! Street Fest, people in Lowestoft can help to create the opening parade, with large-scale puppets to feature.

First Light Festival 2022. (Image: Newsquest)

A festival spokesman said: "First Light is excited to be partnering with Emergency Exit Arts as part of a nationwide project that will work with Lowestoft communities in the run up to June to create a vibrant, walking parade that will feature large-scale puppets.

"This week, four Community Producer Trainees will join the project to help co-ordinate with schools, local organisations and community groups in the town."

First Light Festival 2022. (Image: Malachy Luckie)

The project is now inviting those interested in being involved to join in community workshops on February 23 and February 25 at East Point Pavilion.

Volunteers co-ordinator sought

With the festival only made possible by "the brilliant work of our volunteers," the First Light team is now looking for a Volunteers Co-ordinator to help them recruit, train and manage their team of 150-plus volunteers.

As a paid, part-time role, applications are now open until Friday, February 24, with full details online.

Visit www.firstlightlowestoft.com