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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Encounter Festival

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Encounter Festival

Discover the unexpected extraordinary at Encounter Festival, Preston's free annual festival of arts and culture.

Lancashire Encounter is packed with quality performances, workshops, quirky installations and even a night time procession. Audiences can discover exciting things to see, do and experience. Sponsored by: The Guild Hall, Conlon Construction and David Cox.

11/09/2026

🗣️ PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT: Russ Brown Magician.

♠️ Be wowed and amazed by magic tricks and illusions by award-winning magician Russ Brown! Russ’ style involves lots of audience participation, music and crazy gags.

🗓️ Saturday, 19 September
📌 The Harris, Preston
⏰ 1pm - 4pm

🔗 Check out the full festival programme here: https://lancsencounter.pulse.ly/jh4lxcny1d

09/09/2026

🗣️ PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT: The Ugly Bugs Wingding by Enter Edem.

✨ Come into a magical miniature world to meet an array of enticing insects and colourful creatures on their way to an un-bee-lievable party.

🐞 The Ugly Bugs Wingding is an entrancing puppetry show for all the family.

🗓️ Saturday, 19 September
📌 The Flag Market, Preston
⏰ 2pm & 4.30pm

08/09/2026

📣 Dressmaking Workshop at Moss Mill this Saturday, 12 September.

👗 To celebrate The Harris' upcoming Horrockses Fashions exhibition, Encounter Festival's Procession is going to be led by a Horrockses-inspired commission created by prolific Preston artist, Josh Holden of Wolf Entertainments & Events.

🧵 This is an opportunity to be part of this project - in Preston's oldest surviving Horrocks Mill! Join us for a drop-in day of dressmaking, upcycling and creating. Bring your piece to work or collaborate with us on a Horrockses-inspired creation.

📌 Space is limited so it is first come, first served and you may have to wait to start your work if the space is too busy.

📅 Saturday, 12 September
⏰ 12pm - 4pm
📍 The Ferret, Moss Mill, PR1 2XQ

04/09/2026

🗣️ PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT: Noisy Noise Noise by Working Boys Club.

📚 Noisy Noise Noise is a playful sound library with over 90 books that trigger weird, wonderful, and occasionally rude noises.

🎶 From memes to movie clips, it’s a chaotic celebration of creativity - built with kids, for kids.

🗓️ Saturday, 19 September
📌 The Flag Market, Preston
⏰ 12pm & 2.30pm

📸 Photography by Brent Jones.

02/09/2026

🎉 Encounter Festival returns on Saturday, 19 September with a jam-packed programme of free fun for all the family.

🎭 Expect walk-about theatre, interactive performances, music, workshops and much more, including…

📌 Creative crafts with Magical Story Jars
📌 Entrancing puppetry with Enter Edem
📌 Magic and illusions with Russ Brown Magic
📌 Activities with Let's Grow Preston

🌓 As day turns to night, the spectacular Torchlight Procession will take centre stage as it weaves its way through the city, filling the streets of Preston with music, dancing and light.

🔗 Check out the full programme at https://lancsencounter.pulse.ly/e3u7x0slvf

📸 Michael Porter

31/08/2026

🗣️ PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT: Mr & Mr Burn by Ramshacklicious.

🔥 Meet Mr & Mr Burn, an explosive, chaotic, offbeat Vegas double act with a touch of disaster about them.

🎵 Mr & Mr Burn is a riot of live-looped music, clowning, fire and gloriously unexpected mishaps.

🗓️ Saturday, 19 September
📌 The Flag Market, Preston
⏰ 1.30pm & 3.45pm

📸 Photography by Paul Blakemore.

27/08/2026

🗣️ PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT: Hydropunk by Artizani and Tenderfoot Theatre.

💧 Taps, valves, pipes, pumps, sprays and leaks come together to form a chaotic yet playful water machine full of games and puzzles, all fed by a central reservoir, combining visual spectacle with hands-on engagement.

🗓️ Saturday, 19 September
📌 The Flag Market, Preston
⏰ 12pm - 5pm

📸 Photography by Luke Whitcomb.

25/08/2026

🗣️ PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT: Arachnobot by Tim Davies Design.

🕷️ Arachnobot is an impressive walkabout act which roams the streets, festivals and spectacular events looking for prey, or anyone brave enough to say hello!

🌓 As day turns to night, watch in awe as Arachnobot becomes illuminated.

🗓️ Saturday, 19 September
📌 The Flag Market, Preston
⏰ 1pm, 2.30pm & 7.45pm

📸 Photography by Tim Davies.

21/08/2026

🗣️ PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT: HUG by Levantes Dance Theatre.

🫂 Through a fusion of aerial dance, physical theatre and striking visuals, the audience is invited to rediscover the power of touch, connection and the simple act of a hug.

🗓️ Saturday, 19 September
📌 The Flag Market, Preston
⏰ 12.30pm & 3pm

📸 Photography by Roswitha Chesher.

14/08/2026

🙌 We can't wait to see this collaboration take centre stage at the Torchlight Procession!

📅 Save the date: Saturday, 19 September.

🌟 The procession will start at 7.15pm, making its way from Moor Park Avenue to Lancaster Road, filling the streets with music, dancing and light along the way.

Address

Town Hall, Lancaster Road
Preston
PR12RL

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.lancsencounter.co.uk/

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