Moomins and Murals! Suffolk Libraries returns to First Light Festival

Suffolk Libraries, the charity that runs the library service in Suffolk, will be returning to The First Light Festival in Lowestoft later this month.

First Light is Britain’s only beach festival and Suffolk Libraries will be adding to the huge range of activity on offer on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June.

The Suffolk Libraries Arts Team and staff from Lowestoft Library are teaming up to provide free activities for all the family from their Teepee in the Cosmic Pirates area.

Suffolk Libraries’ Teepee will provide a relaxing and engaging area to relax on the beach. Perfect for families, the tepee has seating and is breastfeeding friendly.

Favourite Suffolk Libraries activities for young children such as Baby Bounce and Tot Rock will also be taking place on Lowestoft beach.

Suffolk Libraries is also delighted to be bringing the interactive children’s show Mischief and Mystery in Moomin Valley to First Light ahead of further performances over the summer in libraries and The Hold in Ipswich.

Suffolk Libraries will also be bringing their Art Space Project to the event featuring a number of arts workshops for people to enjoy. Everyone is welcome to join in and help illustrator Lily Hammond to create a bold and brightly coloured community mural to be displayed at Lowestoft Library after the festival.  

Ceramicist Rachel Kurdynowksa will also be holding a workshop to explore simple ceramic techniques. Using found tools on the beach, you will decorate and create a vessel from clay. You can also explore an eclectic mix of drop-in creative activities with Sarah Nkugwa, founder of Pop Print Studio, from cyanotype to found poetry.

Rebecca Abbott, Creative Producer at Suffolk Libraries said:

“First Light Festival is a wonderful celebration of our landscape and communities and we are delighted to be a part of it. We are lucky to have such a vibrant and exciting festival on our doorstep and Suffolk Libraries’ programme of high-quality, free and accessible activity is going to be a real treat to be part of.”

All the workshops will be inclusive, accessible, suitable for all abilities and open to everyone.  The stories and performances will also be BSL interpreted. All the activities provided by Suffolk Libraries are funded by Arts Council England.

First Light Festival is a free 24-hour multi arts festival in a beautiful coastal setting. The event celebrates one cycle of midsummer sun setting and rising over the beach in Britain’s most easterly town.

The festival has plenty of food and drink options, wild camping and campervan pitches available. A new Friday night ‘add-on’ event offers DJ-ing, cinema and food.