Street Festival
WHATS ON?
Saturday 10-4pm
The Torchlight Street Festival is a day of live music, creative workshops, street theatre, arts and craft stalls.
- This year sees the return of the Street festival. This will be taking place throughout Kendal Town Centre between 10am and 4pm and it will be bigger and better than ever as we celebrate “Folklore and Fantasy”
This years street party will feature stages of live acts
- The Street Stage – outside of the library featuring a mixture of popular local bands
- The Dance Stage – at the Birdcage – performances from local dance schools
There will be great mix of live street theatre featuring a range of never before seen new characters and performances as well as some your old favourites. They will be joined by wandering bands providing the soundtrack of the day.
More details coming soon…
Preston City Mela
Look forward to the vibrant sights, sounds, and rhythms of the Preston City Mela! A celebration of South Asian arts, culture, and heritage is packed with traditional music, dance, including exciting Bollywood performances and plenty of opportunities to join in yourself. Explore colourful stalls and try hands-on workshops like henna and printing, creating your own keepsakes to take home. It’s a lively, family-friendly celebration that promises fun, culture, and unforgettable memories!.
Look forward to joining the fun with colourful Bollywood dance performances at 12:45, 2:20, and 3:30! Between dances, explore a vibrant Street Party filled with hands-on stalls where you can try your hand at saree draping, kita making, flower garland crafting, traditional rangoli, ebru marbling, calligraphy, and henna. It’s a chance to get creative, celebrate culture, and enjoy a truly immersive, family-friendly experience!
Get to know the acts!
Soozi Grooves - Silent Disco
“Look forward to moving, grooving, and letting loose at a silent disco with this fantastic local instructor! Whether you’re new to pole fitness or GROOVE classes, or just love a fun way to get active, you’ll be welcomed into a safe, supportive, and energetic space. Perfect for de-stressing, getting fit, making friends, and building confidence—no experience needed, just bring your enthusiasm and get ready to dance the night away!.”
Website: www.soozikay.co.uk
Milnthorpe Steel Band
“Look forward to being swept up in the feel-good rhythms of the Milnthorpe Steel Band! Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned toe-tapper, their infectious energy and love of music will have everyone smiling and moving along. Based in the beautiful South Lakes, this lively community band brings people together with the joyful sounds of steel pan—no experience needed, just enthusiasm and a ready-to-move spirit!”
Website: www.milnthorpesteelband.co.uk
Sing Space Choir
“Your West End vocal coach-led adult* musical theatre choir. Experience the joy of singing show tunes together in beautiful harmony whilst improving your own voice.”
Website: www.singspacechoir.com
Bubbleologist
“BubblePlaY are based in Newcastle and work as North East Children’s entertainers. BubblePlaY specialise in providing amazing bubble displays and brilliant bubble fun. BubblePlaY frequently works outside the region, travelling all over the country to provide the very best bubble entertainment.”
Website: www.bubbleplay.co.uk
The Fairly Famous Family
“The Fairly Famous Family will once again be bringing their unique brand of fun and entertainment to the people of Kendal! Known for their quirky humour, interactive performances, and larger-than-life characters, they first appeared at Torchlight many years ago and quickly became a firm favourite with audiences of all ages. Ever since that first visit “donkeys years ago,” they’ve been a regular highlight of the event, delighting crowds with their creativity and energy. Whether you’ve seen them before or this will be your first time, you can expect plenty of laughter, surprises, and unforgettable moments when they return to Torchlight this year!”
Website: fairlyfamousfamily.co.uk
Kendal College Street Performers
“The talented Theatre Arts students from Kendal College will be taking to the stage to entertain the crowds with a mix of fun skits and lively performances. Bursting with energy, creativity, and fresh ideas, these up-and-coming performers are ready to showcase their skills and bring plenty of laughter and smiles to the event. Expect playful sketches, light-hearted moments, and a real taste of the enthusiasm that makes this group so special. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick watch or settling in for the full show, you’re guaranteed to enjoy the talent and spirit these young performers bring to Torchlight!”
Website: kendal.ac.uk
Preston City Mela
“Look forward to the vibrant sights, sounds, and rhythms of the Preston City Mela! A celebration of South Asian arts, culture, and heritage is packed with traditional music, dance—including exciting Bollywood performances—and plenty of opportunities to join in yourself. Explore colourful stalls and try hands-on workshops like henna and printing, creating your own keepsakes to take home. It’s going to be a lively, family-friendly celebration that promises fun, culture, and unforgettable memories!”
Facebook: www.facebook.com/prestoncitymela
The Bread & Butter Theatre Company
“Look forward to being captivated by the Bread and Butter Theatre Company! Established in 1997 as a one-man, one-pair-of-underpants outfit, they’ve grown into one of the UK’s leading street theatre companies, performing and innovating at events all over the world. From the Olympic Games to village halls in Shetland, and even the World EXPO in Shanghai, their performances always bring a fresh and friendly energy. What makes them truly special is their ability to improvise and interact with the audience, creating lively, personal, and unforgettable moments of street theatre that delight people of all ages.”
Website: www.breadandbuttertheatre.co.uk
Duggie Dundas
“Get ready to join the brilliant Duggie Dundas for an action-packed session of teamwork and laughter! He’ll be hosting a variety of fun games designed to get everyone working together, thinking on their feet, and sharing plenty of smiles along the way. Gather your friends and family to crack puzzles, solve challenges, and see if you’ve got what it takes to come out on top. Even if you’re not taking part yourself, you’ll have just as much fun cheering on others and watching the excitement unfold. It’s all about teamwork, creativity, and having a great time together!”
Website: www.duggiedundas.co.uk
Face Painting
“Get ready to add a splash of colour and a touch of magic with our fabulous face painting! Talented artists will be on hand to transform little faces (and big ones too!) into anything from fierce tigers and sparkling butterflies to mystical creatures. Perfect for children and adults alike, it’s a fun way to let your imagination run wild and make your Torchlight experience even more memorable. Whether you’re after a bold design, a cute character, or just a little sparkle, our face painters will bring your ideas to life with creativity and flair!”
WHATS ON?
2025 Activities
This year there are more activities than ever before and best of all – its all Free to the public. Just some of the activities include:
- Henna Artists
- Bubbleologist
- Face Painting
- Costume Photobooth
- Music Performances
- Lantern Making
- Dances
- Games
- And more.
THE HUNT IS ON
The Torchlight Trail
Can you find our Torchlight letters and save the day? Lost in the town centre, help us find their locations.
Keep an eye out for more information.
ROCK OUT!
Street Stage
Throughout the day there will be a host of bands playing live music designed to get you up dancing.
AMAZING
Dance Performances
On the dance stage, join the talented dance groups of Kendal a they perform for you and even dance off in a group performance.
ROCK OUT!
College Stage
We will once again be working with Kendal College who are building a performance stage with a difference. They will design, build and manage the stage and its performers throughout the day and bring you a full programme of entertainment.
