What you need to know about Peterborough Celebrates

The free event this weekend is expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors

A festival celebrating arts and culture is poised to unite a city.

Nene Park Trust (NPT) is welcoming visitors to the third edition of Peterborough Celebrates festival this weekend at Ferry Meadows and has described it as a ”weekend to remember".

More than 20,000 people are expected to attend, the park trust said, adding it will include “a jam-packed schedule of performances and activities, with something for everyone".

The free two-day event, funded by NPT and corporate sponsors, for the first time has been themed ‘a love-letter to Peterborough’ and will offer music, activities and food.

Live performances, dance acts and theatre shows will be on offer at the Nene Park festival

What’s on the agenda?

In the run up to the festival, visitors can enjoy film showings at the Big Top Cinema on Thursday and Friday evening. This includes Enjoy Wonka, Grease Sing-A-Long, Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Sing-A-Long and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with prizes awarded for the best fancy dress at each film.

Ticket prices start from £6 for adults and free for people under three years of age.

The main event starts at 11:00 BST on Saturday with a range of music performances and an acrobatic spectacle. A special performing arts event will mark the 10-year celebration of Peterborough Presents - an organisation that works with communities and artists across the city, giving them a platform.

The main stage on Saturday evening will also feature two up and coming local BBC Introducing acts brought to the festival by the festival’s media partnership with BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

In addition, Peterborough Ukrainian Community, Bharat Hindu Samaj and Peterborough Centre for Young Musicians will also be performing.

Crowds enjoying live performance at the festival last year

On Sunday, the event will start at 10.30 with Rise and Shine yoga on the main stage.

Performances on the day includes Red Letter Crew and their fusion of Afro Jazz and poetry, East Timor Dance, Peterborough Opera and Jumped Up Theatre among others. Peterborough Pride will put on a variety show in the Big Top.

The event will end with a colourful Holi celebration- a popular Hindu festival that marks the onset of Spring. Visitors will be invited to playfully throw coloured paints and streamers.

The community has crafted paper hearts for the Nene Park Festival

In keeping with the theme, 2,000 paper hearts have been created by schools and community groups across Peterborough called the "Community Heart art installation".

There are also 13 food vendors for the public to enjoy at the event as well rides and outdoor water activities onsite.

The map of the festival at Nene Park this weekend

Who is it for?

The festival started after the pandemic to thank key workers and celebrate the people of Peterborough who overcame it, the trust said.

For the last years, the event has been funded by the Arts Council. This year it is being run by Nene Park Trust, with the support of key organisations across Peterborough and an army of more than 70 volunteers and staff members.

Stephanie Peachey, head of visitor engagement for Nene Park Trust said: “Our staff and volunteers are working hard to pull together the final bits of preparation to make yet another festival weekend to remember.

"We are really looking forward to welcoming you all to the festival and can promise you a feel-good weekend which celebrates our great city and everything we love about it.”

Visitors can travel on the Nene Valley Railway from the city centre NVR station to Overton Station located in Ferry Meadows

Getting there and parking provisions

The Ferry Meadows festival site is behind the Nene Park visitor centre.

Visitors coming by bus should use the Number 1 service from Queensgate bus station which stops at Orton Wistow. It is roughly a 15 minute walk from there to the festival.

Taxis can drop off passengers at the park's entrance.

People can also travel on the Nene Valley Railway from the city centre NVR station to Overton Station located in Ferry Meadows throughout Saturday and Sunday, with a return ticket of £2 per person and free for under threes or dogs.

There’s parking on site at Ferry Meadows (parking charges apply) and free parking available at Railworld Wildlife Haven in the city centre.