A new Whitehaven festival will be held this summer – and headlined by Vengaboys.
The Whitehaven Weekender will take place on the harbourside on August 29 and August 30 and has been organised by the teams behind Harbour Fest and Pride by the Harbourside.
The festival is expected to welcome up to 10,000 visitors over the two days and will also feature Eat Street, curated by Lakeland Life Events, community stalls, local organisations and interactive experiences for all ages.
Organisers promise a packed programme of free and inclusive events, activities and performances, alongside a ticketed main music zone on Sunday.
Saturday’s programme will be curated by Rosehill, the team behind Harbour Fest, while Sunday will be led by Northern Equality and Diversity with a Pride parade and musical celebration headlined by Vengaboys.
The festival is expected to welcome up to 10,000 visitors over the two days.
Glenn Anderson, director of Northern Equality and Diversity, said: “Pride by the Harbourside has always been about hosting an unforgettable party that celebrates people being their authentic selves.
“What better way to get people into the party spirit that than with the help of the Vengaboys?
“We’re incredibly excited that we’ve been able to bring these iconic performers to Whitehaven!”
Jen Garrick, CEO of Rosehill, said: “Whitehaven Weekender is an exciting chance for us to come together for one big bank holiday weekend of creativity and culture.
“At a challenging time for festivals everywhere, we’re looking forward to bringing Whitehaven a big, bold, beautiful weekend that celebrates this wonderful place, and the people who make it special.”
Deanne Shallcross, chief executive of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, added: “This is the kind of collaborative event that we love to see on our historic harbourside – packed full of family-friendly art, culture, food, and fun.
“Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners are proud to have co-founded Harbour Fest and to have supported Pride by the Harbourside since its founding. We look forward to working with all partners on a new and exciting double-header festival!”
