Encounter Festival announces 2025 plans

Preston’s Encounter Festival will return on Saturday, September 20, marking its tenth anniversary with its most ambitious programme yet.

Following a year of record engagement, plans are in place to create a Festival Village across the Harris Quarter, providing new opportunities for community involvement, and expanding Preston’s Torchlight Procession.

Since its pilot in 2015, Encounter Festival has grown significantly; attracting 47,000 visitors in 2024 and continuing its ambition to provide a platform for high-quality arts, performances, and community engagement. An application for Arts Council England funding has been submitted, with a decision expected in April, supporting plans to grow the festival’s scale and impact for audiences.

Encounter Festival continues to reach new audiences, with nearly one in five visitors experiencing arts and culture for the first time and a growing number attending from outside of the city. The latest evaluation report highlights that the festival is diversifying its audience, with visitors in 2024 representing 16 of the 17 recognised ethnic identities, up from 11 the previous year.

Visitors described the festival as a ‘welcoming and inclusive space’ that brings communities together through shared experiences. One attendee commented: ‘Amazing that a festival of that scale is in Preston; to be part of it was an amazing opportunity.’

The festival continues to create opportunities for artists, performers, and organisations, supporting local talent and attracting nationally recognised acts. Over 2,000 artists and performers participated in 2024, crediting Encounter Festival as an important platform for their development. Supporting young people is a core strand of the Encounter Festival programme.

Last year, the festival collaborated with youth-centred organisation Blaze Arts. An individual at Blaze commented on the success of the collaboration, stating that it gave ‘young people the chance to develop their production skills, event organising skills and project management’.

Exciting plans for 2025

Encounter Festival’s tenth anniversary will provide an opportunity to build on its success and further strengthen its role as a key link between Preston’s cultural events, including the city’s historic Preston Guild celebrations.

The 2025 festival will take a major step forward, creating a Festival Village across The Harris Quarter, designed to encourage visitors to stay all day and into the evening. This will connect key locations across the city centre, providing spaces for live performances and interactive activities.

The Torchlight Procession will also expand, with more groups set to take part, making it the largest procession in the festival’s history. A dedicated programme will support new community groups and cultural organisations to get involved, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to inclusivity and participation.

Sarah Threlfall, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Community & Wellbeing at Preston City Council said: “Encounter Festival continues to grow in impact and significance, bringing thousands of people into Preston’s city centre each year. As we approach the festival’s tenth anniversary, we look forward to developing an even stronger programme that reflects the city’s creativity, ambition, and diversity.

‘’We encourage local businesses, artists, and communities to get involved and help shape what promises to be a landmark event in 2025.”

The 2025 event programme will see Preston host a range of large-scale cultural events throughout the year, including, Preston Caribbean Carnival, Preston City Mela, and Preston Pride. Encounter Festival will continue to develop its programme in collaboration with local and national artists, providing even more opportunities for community participation and engagement.

Encounter Festival’s mission is to celebrate and nurture creativity, ambition, and community spirit in Preston and beyond. With its diverse programming and strong focus on local engagement, the festival is poised to continue its growth and success.

Further programme details will be announced in the coming months. For more information, visit www.lancsencounter.co.uk