North East Lincolnshire’s Love Your Town week returns to the heart of Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham this February, promising an exciting blend of community engagement, cultural celebrations and free family-friendly fun.
During the week of Valentine’s Day, and school Half Term for many, get ready to be ‘loved up’ by live performances, workshops, pop up markets, trails and installations centred around the theme of love – love for your town, yourself and each other.
Taking place across several venues and local shops in each town centre, these events will bring you free fun for all ages and appreciation for our businesses and places.
As well as a packed programme of entertainment, families are invited to take part in the ‘Love Your Shops’ trail in each town. Can you find the artworks hidden in each shop and answer the questions? Pick up a trail sheet in any participating shop, complete the trail and be entered into a draw to win some great prizes.
These events are funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and produced by Swans Events on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council.
LOVE GRIMSBY
This event will take place on Saturday 10 February, alongside the fabulous pop up makers market by Original Emporium in Grimsby Minster.
Come and enjoy live music in the Minster by NEL Music Hub & The Culture House as well as music tech workshops and performances in Grimsby Top Town Market with Freestylers Academy. Here, you’ll be able to watch live performances including DJing, acoustic performances and rapping – you’ll even be able to rap about what you love about your town!
In Freshney Place Shopping Centre, you will find Grimsby’s Circus of Love where you can learn juggling, hoops, diablo, flower sticks and poi with Unseen Arts, plus don’t miss Kazbah Theatre’s Chip & Fish Puppet Shows puppet shows.
Make your own 3D hearts with Lacuna at Grimsby Top Town Market to take part in the Wave of Love finale on the Cleethorpes beach on Saturday 17 February.
Look out for LOVEly stilt walkers and hilarious walkabout acts, plus catch a ride on the Swan in Love, a Swantacular walkabout performance featuring a recycled 7ft Swan Pedalo. Plus more activities to be announced.
There will also be a range of culinary discoveries and guided tours with Taste Lincolnshire’s brand new North East Lincolnshire Food Map, which will be launched as part of Love Your Town.
The self-guided trail will take you on a journey of culinary discovery around North East Lincolnshire produce. To celebrate the launch, Love Your Town will be hosting a guided food tour, including stops and tasters at some participating eateries in the Grimsby & Cleethorpes town centres! Keep an eye out for booking information on our website.
Other walking tours are also available to book from an Urban Sketch Tour with ‘House with the Blue Door’ in Grimsby to a Heritage Walking Tours in each town. Pre-booking is required and more info will be released on the website soon.
Link to Love Grimsby event details: https://www.discovernortheastlincolnshire.co.uk/event/lovegrimsby2024/
LOVE IMMINGHAM
Immingham’s Love Your Town event will take place on Friday 16 February, at the Civic Centre and Kennedy Way.
Meet Pilgrim Fathers-themed street theatre acts, and love-themed stilt walkers. Enjoy a fun-filled programme will take over in the Main Hall at Immingham’s Civic Centre. Join us from 12pm to 5pm for circus workshops, puppet theatre shows, drumming workshops, a silent disco and live music performances for all the family.
Then, for those who may be working during the day, join us from 6pm to 8:30pm in the Main Hall for live music and dancing, alongside the regular games night in the Old Library.
You will also find story-telling and craft for children in the Library, a pop up market, street food vendors, funfair rides, a nature lab and 3D hearts with Lacuna in the Old Library. Here, you will get another opportunity to make your hearts for the Wave of Love finale in Cleethorpes the next day.
Cross the road to Oasis Academy for a full day of fitness fun with yoga, boxing tasters and football games.
Support our local shops and take part in the ‘Love Your Shops’ Immingham trail for a chance to win great prizes, and don’t forget to visit Immingham Museum which will be open all day and will be hosting a Pilgrim Walking Tour.
Link to Love Immingham event: https://www.discovernortheastlincolnshire.co.uk/event/loveimmingham2024/
LOVE CLEETHORPES
Cleethorpes will feel the love on Saturday, 17 February, throughout the town centre.
Love Bugs and Queen of Hearts stilt walkers, Bandanarama, a 12-piece brass band and other brilliant walkabout acts will enliven St Peter’s Avenue, Market Place, Cambridge Street and Seaview Street.
St Peter’s Church Hall will host a fabulous pop up market – from jewellery to artisan food – plus join in with sea-themed creative activities for kids, including life drawing classes with a real life merfolk!
The ‘Love Your Shops’ Cleethorpes trail will again give you the chance to check out a fantastic range of retailers and the chance to win great prizes. Don’t forget to book onto the Cleethorpes Food Tour and Heritage Walking Tours as well when bookings are released.
Link to Love Cleethorpes event details: https://www.discovernortheastlincolnshire.co.uk/event/lovecleethorpes2024/
Wave of Love Finale
Love Your Town week will conclude in a Wave of Love! Bring your 3D heart creations and join us on the Cleethorpes beachfront at Brighton Slipway from 3pm on Saturday, 17 February, to create a massive Wave of Love! Taiko Drummers and Street Theatre acts will join the celebration but don’t forget to dress warmly, it is February after all. LaCuna will be hosting 3D heart workshops before the event for your final creations.
Councillor Hayden Dawkins, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and the Visitor Economy, said: “It’s great to welcome back the Love Your Town events to the borough.
“From yoga classes to maker’s markets and theatre performances, there is something for everyone to enjoy and take part in.
“It’s a chance for us all to show our local shops and businesses why we love them so much and a reason to celebrate all things North East Lincolnshire.”
To keep up to date with LOVE YOUR TOWN and to find out more about the trail and prizes as well as book the walking tours and other activities, visit: https://www.discovernortheastlincolnshire.co.uk/loveyourtown/
Share this article