Great Yarmouth carnival and street party 2019: All you need to know
Crowds enjoyed the carnival parade in Great Yarmouth as part of the Great Yarmouth Arts Festival 2018. Photo: David Street - Credit: Archant
Great Yarmouth is set to feel the force of an energy-themed carnival hopefully powered by sunshine on Saturday.
Great Yarmouth Arts Festival carnival parade 2018. Photo: David Street - Credit: Archant
Some 400 people are set to parade through the streets with organisers keeping everything crossed that forecast dark clouds merely clip the coast.
The event is the climax of a ten-day arts festival that sees a range of performances and exhibitions across multiple venues.
Organiser Hugh Sturzaker said all the pumps were primed for a great day with huge colourful costumes worthy of any exotic Caribbean cavalcade.
He said some 18 groups were represented, some dressed as windmills to chime with the energy theme celebrating the town's modern day role as an industry hub along with the heritage of drainage pumps.
Tipping Point, from the acclaimed Ockhams Razor, performed at last year's Great Yarmouth Arts Festival. Photo: Mark Dawson Photography - Credit: Mark Dawson Photography
The carnival will set off from the Venetian Waterways at 11am to celebrate the attraction's redevelopment, pass along North Drive, up Regent Road, through the Market Place, and along King Street to St George's Theatre - accompanied by the pulse of live music.
The performers will then divide, some going to the library to the community fair and some to King Street which will be closed to traffic for a street party from midday to 5pm.
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Mr Sturzaker said visual arts were well-represented with at least five exhibitions including at the Minster, the former Marks and Spencers and Skippings Gallery.
Entertainment will include music in the Market Place and continue into the evening with dancing, live music and circus at the Drill House in York Road and Orchestrate, ending with a Last Night at the Proms-style finale in the Minster.
Kumpania Algazarra will be performing at the Festa Fiesta on Saturday. Picture: GYAF - Credit: GYAF
Scoops for this year included journalist Michael Brunson who had a front row seat at some of the biggest political dramas in history including the Watergate scandal.
He will be sharing his experiences at St George's Theatre on Sunday June 16 at 2.30pm.
Mr Sturzaker also hailed a performance by Maxim Calver with East Coast Sinfonietta on Saturday June 15 at 7.30pm as a feather in the festival's cap.
However there was disappointment over HMS Pinafore, set to be staged on Friday, June 7, but cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
Mr Sturzaker said: "The festival has evolved over the years and we are very keen to get people involved and taking part, not just watching - particularly during carnival."
Among the highlights
The seventh Great Yarmouth Arts Festival gets underway today, Friday, June 7, promising something for everyone from music to heritage to literature - all plugged into a theme of energy.
One of the first performances is a harp recital featuring works by a range of artists including Ed Sheeran with all pieces fitting in with the energy theme at St George's Theatre at 10am today.
The theatre is also hosting a cinema screening of All is True on Tuesday, June 11 at 7.30pm.
Visual arts are well represented with Art in the Minster from Friday to Sunday, June 16, Art on the Railings in the Market Place tomorrow (Saturday), Art in the Library until June 13, and student pieces at Skippings in King Street until June 15.
There are also a range of heritage walks.
Most of the music events in the Minster are free to under 16.
