Free summer party in the City Centre on Sunday 25 June
More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the hugely popular Alban Street Festival which is returning after an enforced absence of four years.
The six-hour-long summer street party is one of the most exciting events held in St Albans City Centre and celebrates the District’s heritage and diversity, past and present.
It was cancelled for two years running because of the pandemic and last year it was stood down to make way for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Now the Festival is making its comeback on Sunday 25 June with a programme of free entertainment including live music, fun activities and street performers.
There will also be around 100 market stalls selling a mouth-watering variety of takeaway food as well as drinks and other produce.
The event, organised by St Albans City and District Council, takes place from noon until 6pm with St Peters Street closed to traffic.
It forms part of the Alban Weekend with the annual Alban Pilgrimage being held on Saturday 24 June.
That features a parade of giant puppets to celebrate Saint Alban, Britain’s first Christian martyr. His story will be recreated in a procession of Roman chariots, centurions, lions and executioners.
Councillor Lynn Cunningham, Lead Councillor for Events, said:
Our residents are going to be thrilled that the Alban Street Festival is returning and we are expecting a great turn-out.
The atmosphere is always fantastic with so much free entertainment on offer throughout the day, set against the dramatic backdrop of our historic City Centre.
There is something to suit people of all ages and interests and I would urge people to come along and not to miss out. It will be a lively weekend with the stunning Alban Pilgrimage taking place on the Saturday.
The Alban Street Festival is supported by St Albans BID-City Centre Businesses. Vivien Cannon, Manager of St Albans BID, said:
This day gives a great ‘hello and welcome to all’ in celebration of the history behind our town’s founding and namesake, Alban.
In keeping with the Alban Street Festival ethos, today’s City Centre businesses continue to offer hospitality to visitors and townsfolk with a plethora of products and experiences to enjoy in St Albans every day of the year.
This Alban Street Festival is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which has pledged to contribute £79,220 to St Albans Community Events during 2022/23.
Among the highlights are:
- Live music on the main stage, opposite the Metro Bank. There will be a wide range of local acts including the Redbourn Jazz Band; blues and ragtime musicians Kelvin Davies and Gary Jones; folk duo Elizabeth and Jameson; handpan percussionist Rosie Bergonzi; and blues band Bathtub Ginn.
- Music on the acoustic stage in front of Anthropologie in Market Place. Acts include Roman Horn, a demonstration of the ancient musical instrument; Miracle Nwaizu, a spoken word artist; and singers Ashyla and Ayesha
- Celtic Harmony Camp, a heritage education charity, will be demonstrating a number of historic crafts and skills including soap knapping, pottery and weaponry.
- Create and Play Zones including art activities by St Albans District Scouts; wooden games by Peter Templeman; circus skills by Super Circus Party; paper mosaics by Preet Cox of Rainbow Trails; and puppetry by the Young People’s Puppet Theatre.
- Free face painting, henna and street performers including Vinny the Clown, the stilt-walking Ancient Olympiads and Centurion marching drills.
Picture: scene from the 2019 Alban Street Festival.
Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, 01727-819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.
Note to Editors:
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.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.
