Encounter Festival 2024
Encounter Festival will return again on Saturday 20 September 2025 with more fun packed performances.
A colourful celebration of Arts and Community at the 2024 Encounter Festival
The Encounter Festival has become a highly anticipated event in Preston, and this year, it didn't disappoint.
The annual event ran on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September 2024, turning the city into a vibrant canvas for artists and performers from across the UK, attracting the local community and reminding us the power of the arts to bring people together.
Encounter Festival 2024 brought an exciting array of performances to Preston, showcasing a range of creative and high-energy events.
Highlights included WILD by MotionHouse, which transported audiences to an urban forest, and Family Catwalk Extravaganza by Ghetto Fabulous, a thrilling mix of fashion, dance, and lip-syncing.
Other standout shows included Betty Brown Bags, a celebration of Northern working-class women through interactive theatre, and Everywhere's a Beach, a circus-inspired performance full of eccentric beach fun.
These events made the weekend unforgettable for all who attended.
Sit back, relive and enjoy.
Wild
Saturday afternoon, WILD by Motion House provided the people of Preston with a performance that not only amazed but provided a thought-provoking review of modern life and the human desire to reconnect with nature.
The thrilling blend of dance, acrobatics and storytelling, captivated us from start to finish, pushing the boundaries of performance art, with every movement communicating emotion, fear, freedom and exhilaration.
The show illustrated the themes of survival and the complexity of human connection to the wild.
Family Catwalk Extravaganza
The Family Catwalk Extravaganza by Without Walls invited the people of Preston to strut their stuff with this vibrant, family-friendly show, which merges fashion, performance, and celebrating self-expression with confidence.
One of the core messages of this amazing show was its celebration of diversity and individuality and rather than the usual conventional fashion show, this extravaganza allows everyone to shine in their own unique way.
A truly uplifting experience, full of laughter, dance and unforgettable moments were provided by the cast of the family catwalk.
Betty Brown Bags
Betty Brown Bags by Raggle Taggle Arts showcased its interactive show inspired by a traditional folk play from Lancaster. It celebrated the strength and resilience of Northern working-class culture through live music, clog dancing, singing and even some sword fighting, it was something for all ages!
Betty and Billy told their tale of the evil King George and how they needed our help to defeat him.
PLOT17
Plot 17 by Apples and Snakes provided its unique and exciting event with its hip-hop garden festival led by underground hip-hop hero Kenny Baraka, also known as The Green Man, and DJ Conrad Kira. Together, they used their musical talents to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire action through their engaging performance.
The Community and Traditions Stage
Located outside the entrance to The Guild Hall, Encounter Festival presented its Community and Traditions Stage, a vibrant platform that celebrated local talent and cultural traditions during the festival.
The stage was hosted by Hussnain Hanif, a prominent figure in the local community and a respected BBC Radio Lancashire broadcaster. In the evening, BBC Radio Lancashire's John 'Gilly' Gilmore warmed up the crowd while crowds waited the arrival of the festival's spectacular Torchlight Procession.
The Community and Traditions Stage featured Encounter Voices Choir, Swati Dance Company and Urooj Qawwa with there diverse performances, from traditional to artistry.
Torchlight Procession
On Saturday eve, the festival's signature Torchlight Procession wound its way through the city streets, bringing a fabulous display of lights, music, and community spirit.
Leading the procession this year was newly commissioned brass band BRAZEN which celebrated brilliant women brass players with extensive experience in National Orchestras, Championship Brass Bands, touring Jazz Bands, Street Bands and more.
This was followed by some of Preston's finest procession groups, the procession brought an electric extravaganza of illumination, music and dance through the city centre. Including the stilt due The Lumens, Preston City Mela, Hellfyre Magpie and Rivington North West Morris Dancers joined us again this year.
We also had local dance schools and bands; Jenisha Patel's Bollywood Dance School, Worldwise Samba, Jazz Swing Dance, Bay Beat, Cacophony Arkestra and many more!
The evening ended with its firework finale.
Sunday Encounter on Winckley Square
On Sunday at Encounter Festival saw the beautiful Winckley Square come alive with music, dancing and wonderful family shows, a range of food stalls and games and craft activities. We even saw an Invisible Man walking down Fishergate!
Mughal Miniatures: Animal Paradise
Mughal Miniatures: Animal Paradise" by Sonia Sabri Company performed its vibrant outdoor performance for all the family on Sunday at Winckley Square, celebrating the exquisite traditional art of Indian and Persian miniature painting.
Performering in sumptuous costumes created a captivating living picture, transporting the audience back in time to the richness of the Mughal Empire with a contemporary twist. The show explored the relationship between humans and the natural world through expressive dance, evocative puppetry, and incredible music.
Everywhere's a Beach
Everywhere's a Beach by Hikapee Theatre, performed its high-energy circus theatre piece at Winckley Square, captivating audiences with its unique blend of physical action and narrative and offering a day at the beach unlike any other.
The show featured a freestanding parasol structure, designed by Tarn Aitken, which supported aerial work and allowed for a dynamic performance space, showcasing the company's creativity and technical prowess.
The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man by Altered States was a captivating performance at the Encounter Festival 2024. This interactive walkabout street theatre show featured a two-person act involving The Invisible Man and his mysterious doctor. The performance took place at Fishergate, corner of Winckley Street.
The show allowed the audience to interact with a truly invisible man, peer into his innards, and communicate with him via the doctor's apparatus, which turned his thoughts into speech.
Other performances and family fun
Over the weekend, the Encounter Festival put on a host of other fantastic performances, engaging workshops and fun for all. From the Ski Band who entertained the crowd with its upbeat tunes, Open mic at the Orchard at Preston Market, Face Painting and Henna was on offer at Winckley Square, and Magic Story Jars, provided a creative workshop where children could create their own magical stories
The event truly brought together the city's brilliant diverse community, through an action packed programme of arts, culture and creativity.
Image credits
Special thanks to the photographers of Preston Photographic Society, who took the amazing photographs featured in this blog.