16.52°C A special community celebration is coming to Firstsite on Friday, 5th June, as the Love Colchester Celebrations event marks the success of Beat the Street after nearly 18,000 people took part across Colchester.
The free event will bring together exhibitions, performances, local groups, activities and community organisations for a full day celebrating creativity, wellbeing and connection across the city.
Held at Firstsite in Lewis Gardens, the day will feature a creative exhibition running from 10am to 8pm, alongside a Legacy Market and Festival taking place from 3pm to 8pm.
Beat the Street Engagement Coordinator for Colchester, Tracey Davies, said organisers knew there would be interest in the project because of its previous success in Colchester in 2017 and in other areas around the country, but admitted the scale of engagement still exceeded expectations.
“What stood out was the diversity of people getting involved,” said Tracey. “Children, adults, families, people with disabilities, workplaces, charities, community groups and schools – it really connected every aspect of the community, and people felt part of a shared experience.”
Tracey believes the project’s simplicity helped it connect with such a wide range of people.
“It is simple, free and fun and makes the activity feel achievable,” she said. “It helped people discover more about their local area, encouraged people to walk, cycle or wheel rather than drive, and created a real community spirit.”
She added that many participants made new connections while taking part.
“People were meeting each other at the Beat Boxes and making new friends. People felt like they were part of something, and it gave them a shared sense of purpose.”
Among the standout moments for Tracey was meeting a couple who began coming into Colchester city centre every day during the challenge.
“They told me they would usually be at home watching TV, but Beat the Street gave them something free and fun to do together while helping them discover places they hadn’t known about before.”
Tracey also praised the number of organisations, clubs and community groups that supported the project across the city.
Examples included Beresfords promoting the game across Colchester and organising a litter-pick walk with mental health runner Shawn Leek and Firstsite, while Kidical Mass organised a community bike ride involving more than 100 people, supported by Essex Pedal Power.
“There was a real sense of collaboration throughout,” she said. “No agendas, no egos – everyone together wanting the best for Colchester. That’s why we called the upcoming celebration event Love Colchester, because people really do care and are making a difference here.”
The Love Colchester Celebrations event itself will include photography and art exhibitions, live music, demonstrations, taster sessions and activities for all ages. Visitors will also be able to see the Tiny Town sculpture created by more than 300 children at Firstsite.
“We wanted the celebration to reflect the same energy as Beat the Street itself,” Tracey said. “We wanted people to come along and actively experience what Colchester has to offer, whether that’s trying a new activity, meeting local groups or simply spending time together as a community.”
Looking ahead, Tracey hopes the long-term impact of Beat the Street will continue beyond the six-week challenge.
“If Beat the Street encouraged someone to walk more regularly, spend more time outdoors, feel more connected to their community or discover a new local activity, then that’s a real success,” she said.
“More broadly, we hope it has strengthened the conversation around health, wellbeing and community participation across Colchester, and shown what’s possible when a city comes together around a positive shared goal.”
The free Love Colchester Celebrations takes place at Firstsite on Friday 5th June, with exhibitions open from 10am and the Legacy Market and Festival running from 3pm to 8pm. Visitors will be able to explore community organisations, enjoy performances and activities, and discover more about the groups and projects helping bring people together across Colchester.
