Preston set to host first youth festival during the summer holidays

Youngsters aged 11 to 18 are being invited to take part in a host of events from dance and drama to sports and a “silent disco” during the innovative event in August.

The Elevate Festival is being organised by Longton Community Church at its new city headquarters and will feature a live band, a foam party and a range of workshops including song writing and video making.

“We’ve been looking to do a youth festival for some time,” said youth worker Becky Robinson at the church in St Mary’s Street North.

“And now we have moved to our own building in the city centre we thought this year would be the ideal time to launch it. Hopefully it will become an annual event and go from strength to strength.”

Elevate is aimed at an age group which, says Becky, is not well catered for in Preston.

“There are a lot of things going on during the summer for the younger youths, up to the age of 11, but not a lot for the older youths. So this is an ideal opportunity for that age group to come along for two days and either engage in all sorts of great activities we have planned, or just hang out. We are a church, but everyone is welcome from all faiths. We have professionals coming along to run the workshops and it should be terrific. The silent disco is incredible. People put on headphones and pick whichever genre of music they want. It’s great fun watching everyone dancing in silence to different tunes.”

The festival will be held on Thursday and Friday, August 3 and 4.