A five-metre tall fox will make her way to Lowestoft next month as a carnival-style atmosphere returns to the town's streets.
Farrah the Fox will descend on Lowestoft as part of Historic England's celebration of high streets in seven towns and cities this summer as Hi! Street Fest celebrates what communities love about their local places.
And with a traditional procession taking centre stage once more in Lowestoft for the first time in more than a decade, it comes as Lowestoft has been selected as one of six towns and cities nationally that will benefit from "a landmark nationwide project".
Leading the way, Hi! Lowestoft is the first performance in the landmark nationwide commission - with a spectacular free summer performance celebrating Lowestoft life.
This can be seen on Saturday, June 17 at the start of this year’s First Light Festival.
The performance features creative celebrations and puppetry, including the giant fox Farrah.
As Hi! Lowestoft is celebrated in partnership with Emergency Exit Arts (EEA), First Light Festival CIC and with support from East Suffolk Council, the curious fox called Farrah will kick off this year's First Light Festival.
A "unique carnival parade" performance starts at 10.45am and will wind its way through the town to the festival’s main beach stage for noon.
Farrah will be greeted by Sol, Lowestoft’s host puppet - who represents the town’s heritage and spirit of the sea and has been co-created with local communities in collaboration with puppet makers Thingumajig Theatre.
A Historic England spokesman said: "The parade will lead through the London Road Lowestoft Heritage Action Zone, accompanied by urban animals and ocean creatures comprised of local schools and community groups.
"The two puppets will celebrate the meeting of land and sea in the town, as a means of inspiring resilience and adaptability in the community."
Alongside music and performance, the parade will feature the swapping of gifts between the new friends, including gifts of a new street music band developed by Marina Theatre and a giant postcard from the Lowestoft community.
"More than 1,000 participants will be involved in this joyful production, through music, dance and creative craft decorations," the spokesman added.
Created in partnership with Emergency Exit Arts, Farrah is a five-metre mechanical puppet of a young fox, travelling the country on her scooter.
With the vibrant celebrations led by Artistic Director Manuela Benini, Historic England Head of Creative Programmes and Campaigns, Ellen Harrison, said: "Hi! Lowestoft is going to be a huge event and a fantastic finale to the Heritage Action Zones cultural programme.
"This joyous community event will bring so many people together in historic Lowestoft, taking part in the vibrant performance or for a day out to see this wonderful spectacle start this year’s First Light Festival.
"It’s the perfect way to celebrate the revitalisation of the historic heart of Lowestoft."
Genevieve Christie, CEO of First Light Festival CIC, said: "The arrival of Farrah and Sol to Lowestoft will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our incredible town, and a thrilling start to this year’s First Light Festival.
"We can’t wait for the community to come out on midsummer weekend and welcome Farrah, Sol and their friends with open arms."
Helen Johnson, culture and heritage programme manager at East Suffolk Council, said: "Hi! Lowestoft is set to provide a real spectacle to kick off this year’s First Light Festival and mark the culmination of the Heritage Action Zones cultural programme.
"It promises to be a lively, colourful and engaging celebration for the town, and we’re pleased to support this, the inaugural performance in a major nationwide tour of select locations to have benefitted from the partnership with Historic England."
With opprtunities still to get involved visit www.firstlightlowestoft.com/parade and find out more.
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