Hundreds expected at first Whittlesey Festival since Covid outbreak
It's hosting the event for the first time since 2019
Hundreds of people are expected to descend on a Fenland town today for the first time since the Covid pandemic.
The Whittlesey Festival hasn't happened since 2019 because of the outbreak, but it returns with a host of live music, entertainment and a parade.
Some of the standout performances include the Black Eagles Tanzanian Acrobatic and Dance Group, a classic vehicle show and a Battle of Britain memorial flypast which includes the likes of a Spitfire, Lancaster and a Hurricane.
Marija Lysak is one of the festival organisers:
“This will be four years ago that we haven’t have a festival so we’re trying to make it bigger and better than before; we’re coming back with a bang,” she said.
“There’s something for everybody.
“I enjoy seeing the community come together and enjoy the day, and I believe the forecast is going to be good so that’s a bonus for us.
“We do provide it for local people, that’s important, but we do believe this does heighten the profile of Whittlesey and what the town represents, and that’s a fantastic community.”
The opening parade at the festival, which will stage its 13th edition, will set off at 10am and the finale is at 3.30pm.
Costs of rides and attractions have also been subsidised through fundraising and sponsorship from local businesses to help keep prices down for visitors.
Councillor Kay Mayor is the mayor of Whittlesey:
“We need Whittlesey putting on the map and this is one way of doing it,” she said.
“I appreciate the fundraising that has taken place to help subsidise the rides and attractions to enable the day to be fun for all without some of the financial worry in these difficult times.
“The team that have pulled this together have worked extremely hard; it will bring a lot of people into the town.”