Following the success of last weekend’s Lakes Alive Festival, Kendal is in for another treat this weekend with the annual Kendal Torchlight Procession and Street Carnival. Each year crowds of people, locals and visitors alike, line the streets to watch the Kendal Torchlight procession – from decorated floats to dancing troups and marching musicians, it’s always so much fun to see what our creative community has come up with each year. The 2018 Kendal Torchlight procession takes place this Friday the 14th September with the Kendal Street Party following on Saturday 15th September.

Kendal Torchlight

Friday - The Torchlight Procession Theme

The theme for 2018 is ‘Books and Authors’ – allowing our local communities imaginations to run wild. From literary classics to more modern favourites, there is a wide selection of entries this year.

Friday - The Torchlight Procession Route

This year the torchlight procession will start from Kirkbie Kendal School at 7.30pm and then follow a set route to loop round Kendal town centre. The procession will finish back at Kendal Leisure Centre around 10pm with all roads re-opening shortly after.

Saturday - The Carnival Street Party

On Saturday 15th September, Kendal’s town centre will be taken over by a host of carnival arts performances and workshops. There are lots of activities planned including:

  • Vintage Street Fair – with lots of traditional  stalls and craft activities
  • Ragtag Arts will be building a fairy tale castle and they need your help – building, sticking, cutting out, painting, decorating (making a lot of mess) and playing away the day
  • Love Arts Carnival Hungry Caterpillar workshops
  • Preston-based carnival youth group ABLAZE will be holding headdress making workshops

All activities are available on a drop in basis and will be taking place between 10am and 4pm on Stricklandgate and Highgate.

If you are heading to the town centre to do a spot of shopping you are in for a treat as Kendal Street Carnival will also be bringing several fantastic bands to the Main Street, Birdcage and Westmorland Shopping Centre. Hear from Milnthorpe Steel Band, Blue Jam Arts Samba Band, Blast Furness Street Band, folk duo – Scrogans Run and 7 -piece live band – Groove Train.

It’s set to be a brilliant day!

Main Stage

10.00 Stagecoach
10.50 Margaret Bowers Tokari
11.40 Dance Attik
13.20 Mini Procession with Blast Furness
14.10 Holly Lovelady Roberts
15.00 Trophies
15.50 Hannah McKee
16.40 Illyria

Evening Performances

18.00 Scrogans Run
19.30 Groove Train

Acoustic Stage

11.30 Jennifers Dancers
12.15 Sean Moore
13.00 Kev Kendal
13.45 Blue Jam
14.30 Blast Furness
15.15 Beth Jade Kissock
16.00 Sophie Langhorn

Timings may change on the day, please look out for the daily timetable.

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