Published on: Thursday, 9 May 2019
Last updated: Thursday, 9 May 2019
Train operator Greater Anglia has issued travel advice for people travelling to Lowestoft’s new First Light Festival on 22 June, as local leaders urge people to avoid clogging the town with cars.
First Light is a brand new, free, non-stop 24 hour long, multi-arts festival that celebrates the first light of midsummer’s weekend at Britain’s most easterly point.
Events – which include music, dance, film, literature, art, science, talks, walks, sports, workshops, fire, food and drink - will begin on Lowestoft’s sandy South Beach at noon on Saturday 22nd June and will run continuously through changing tides, light and darkness, sun and stars until noon on Sunday 23rd June.
Festival goers are encouraged to use public transport to keep congestion and pollution out of the town.
Greater Anglia has advised that there are no engineering works taking place that weekend on the lines from London, Chelmsford, Colchester, Manningtree, Ipswich, Cambridge and Norwich and the event is just a short walk from the train station.
There are regular services from London Liverpool Street to Lowestoft on Saturday, with a change at either Norwich or Ipswich.
On Saturday, the latest return to London from Lowestoft is at 21.07, via Ipswich. Advance tickets are available from £14 one way.
There are regular direct services to Lowestoft from Norwich and Ipswich and back all weekend. The last train from Lowestoft to Ipswich on Saturday is at 21.07. For Norwich, the last train departs Lowestoft at 23.30.
Festival goers are advised to plan their journeys in advance by checking journey times at www.greateranglia.co.uk
Kerry Blair, Head of Operations at East Suffolk Council said “With large numbers of people expected to attend the festival, we would recommend that visitors take advantage of our excellent rail links. With regular trains from Norwich and Ipswich arriving at Lowestoft station in the heart of the town, it is a really easy way to get here. Meanwhile, fewer cars will reduce congestion and help ensure the event is as enjoyable as possible for festival-goers and residents alike.”
Greater Anglia’s Commercial and Customer Service Director, Martin Moran, said, “With our great value fares, fast, frequent services, and the station’s close proximity to the beach and festival events, it couldn’t be easier to get there and back by train.”
The event is free but some activities require tickets.
For the full festival programme and to book visit www.firstlightlowestoft.com .
Programme highlights include:
- Academy award-winning director Danny Boyle, who will introduce the beach screening of his sci-fi epic ‘Sunrise’.
- Gilles Peterson, BBC 6Music presenter and international club DJ, who will bring the best worldwide vibes to the beach for a sundown session, plus a host of DJs that will keep the party going around the clock.
- Radio presenter and author Simon Mayo, who will talk about the importance of the spirit of a place in his writing.
- Natural History Museum. The ancient and fascinating character of the stretch of Suffolk and Norfolk coastline surrounding Lowestoft will be the focus of festival spotlight talks from museum scientists. Spotlight talk subjects will include Brachiopods and Beetles and the incredible mammals were roaming the Lowestoft/Suffolk area 700,000 years ago. The museum will be bringing artefacts and specimens with them that will bring to life the coastline’s unique stories and natural history.