Toy Procession
We animated Ashington this December with three processions featuring elves, Christmas crackers, a fairy mouse, a clockwork doll, a sweet fairy, a toy robot and a Christmas Tree. The procession also featured a live six -piece band and a troop of mini dancing toy soldiers from the Gladwin ballet and stage school, and led the Town Centre's lantern parade to the Christmas Tree Lights celebrations and the big switch-on, entertaining 5,400 people.
The Toy Procession was originally commissioned by Manchester Markets and Manchester BID
Light Night
We kick started the New Year by lighting up Station Road and Ashington’s Estates with two nights of pop up interactive drumming and movement spectaculars. We joining forces with international street performers Spark! to bring dynamic lighting, choreography and eye catching special effects right to the front doors of Ashington.
Pride of Ashington Torch Lit Procession
Feast of Fire
Hirst Park was lit up as a dramatic, flame-lit garden. Full of wonder, burning bulrushes, a flower flamed arch, flaming lotus flowers, local music and food! A sensory overload of light, sound and exotic tastes and aromas. We teamed up with Full Circle to add some extra spice to our Fire Garden so visitors could enjoy homegrown and cooked food representing the diversity of residents they support.
Seeding the Future Week
Renowned Land Artist James Brunt and friends held workshops with local young people and older community members to participate in the creation of site-responsive pieces of land art. He spent time in the town researching the development of a large-scale land artwork inspired by conversations with Ashington young people about the environment and how they see Ashington in the future.
One Amazing Day
Ashington Town Centre came alive with creativity for One Amazing Day. A carnival of music, street performance, arts and crafts. With a giant animatronic tortoise roaming around the smallest hotel in the world, or a hypochondriac hippopotamus with a toothache stopping passers-by to take his temperature. There were have-a-go activities such as a Try Not Buy arts market and Hip Hop dancing. Ashington transformed into a festival of fantastical fun.
Art-Works
A series of community-inspired artworks will bring colour to the town centre as the exciting regeneration programme takes place. We will be working with a local artist and young and older residents to create art inspired by the Ashington Futures project.
Powering the Future Parade
The Powering the Future Parade took place along Station Road with a true wonder of the Victorian Age, a full-size replica of Stephenson’s Rocket, celebrating the opening of the Northumberland Line, bringing passenger trains back into service between Ashington and Newcastle for the first time in 60 years. Two centuries after its creation we’ve redesigned The Rocket for the 21st century, a truly clean machine – fuelled not by coke but by old-fashioned pedal power. Pulling first, second and third class carriages through Ashington’s Streets and making its way to the Town Fete in the People's Park. And carrying six horse passengers, relieved of their labour, by the advent of the steam engine and heading off on their holidays to Whitley Bay, dressed in their Victorian best hats, frocks and suitcases in their hooves. A celebration of transport, connectivity and renewable energy.
