Sign switch-on marks launch of two new festivals

A 27m-long and 8m-high light installation spelling out the town's name has been installed on the seafront Golden Mile and will be switched on for the first time at 6.45pm on Wednesday by Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Cllr Adrian Thompson.

The lighting up coincides with the launch of the Paint The Town festival, which celebrates art and creativity in Great Yarmouth, and Flavours festival, which focuses on the wide range of cuisines on offer across the borough.

The low-energy LED sign at the Pleasure Beach Gardens is expected to become a magnet for selfie-fans, offering a unique chance to record visits to the town.

It will also be a potential new subject for painters and photographers taking part in the Paint The Town festival, which kicked off with a 'paint day out' outside the Fisherman's Hospital on Wednesday morning.

The four-day festival also includes guided heritage walks and photography competitions, exhibitions of local photography and art and live art workshops.

The Flavours food event, which will run from March 25 to 27, will highlight the diverse cultures of food and drink the borough has to offer, alongside entertainment in the form of live cooking demos and musical evenings.

On Friday, local chefs from across the borough will done their whitest chef whites to battle it out to be crowned the best fish finger sandwich of the borough in a 'Fish Finger Frenzy' competition. The battle will commence at 2.30pm at St George's Plaza on King Street.

Michelin-star holding Norfolk-born chef and hotelier Galton Blackiston will present a cooking demo on the plaza from Saturday 26 at 12.30pm, with more throughout the day.

On Saturday night, St George's Theatre will host a live Latin band from 8pm, with the chance to learn to dance Latino-style with tutorials. Tickets are £4.50 advance, £5 on the door.

The seafront Joyland Diner will be hosting a car meet on Sunday lunchtime, with the Rogue Shanty Buoys providing live music from 1.30pm.

Visit www.greatyarmouthflavours.co.uk or www.paintthetowngy.co.uk for full listings.

Cllr Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: "Our sparkling new seafront sign and these two great new festivals are fun additions to the borough that will help residents and visitors alike see the area in a new light."

Lyndon Bevan, chair of Visit Great Yarmouth, said the investment would lead to Great Yarmouth and the fun it offered visitors of all ages would be spread far and wide.
 
"The name of Great Yarmouth in lights will now be across the world in selfies and other photography and videos on social media, which is a brilliant marketing tool to attract even more people to discover our destination and the surprises it offers."

The Flavours event and The Paint the Town event is supported by ERDF and Welcome Back Fund.

The seafront sign is part of See Great Yarmouth In A Different Light project, supported by the government's Town Fund. Other parts of the project include decorative new lighting in Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, and Hemsby.