Huge crowds at the Alban Weekend!

Around 16,000 people enjoyed a free summer party in St Albans City centre that included live music, theatre and sport.

A vast range of activities catering for all ages was on offer at the annual Alban Street Festival on Sunday 25th  June. St Peter’s Street was closed to traffic for the fun six-hour event that took place amid almost uninterrupted sunshine.

Among the highlights were street performers, 80 food and drink stalls, and the Minecraft Hackathon – a chance to build the City, using the computer game. New attractions for this year included storytelling sessions in the huge Imaginarium circus tent, short meditation courses and comic book workshops. There were also two live music stages at either end of the City centre with a line-up of groups to suit all musical tastes.

A beach area was created by Godfrey’s Fish and Chips of Harpenden at The Stage on the Sand, in Market Place. This included deckchairs to provide a relaxed atmosphere and showcase local bands. At the Taxi Rank Stage, opposite the Beech House, there was a mass ceilidh that saw dozens of people take part in traditional dancing.

The Street Festival, organised by St Albans City and District Council, formed part of the Alban Weekend that also included the Alban Pilgrimage on Saturday 24th June. The Pilgrimage told the story of Saint Alban, the first recorded Christian martyr in Britain, who was beheaded by the Romans in the 3rd or 4th century. A parade of giant puppets including Roman chariots, centurions, lions and executioners made its way from St Peter’s Church to the Cathedral.

A scene from the Alban Pilgrimage

Councillor Beric Read, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Business and the Community, said: “I am delighted at the number of people who turned out for the street festival with the crowd up by a couple of thousand on last year. This event just gets bigger and better every year. There was a tremendous range of entertainment available as well as opportunities to learn about new sports, the arts and even meditation.

“Together with the Alban Pilgrimage, the street festival made for a fantastic weekend and the atmosphere in the City Centre was electrifying. The event also gives a boost to the local economy with thousands of people from far and wide spending money with our local market traders and in our shops, restaurants and cafes.”

(Source: St Albans City and District Council)