Arts by the Sea festival has officially opened in Bournemouth following a spectacular dress rehearsal by headline performers Cirque Bijou last night.
The special preview of Bourne to Love took place outside Bournemouth Town Hall and included aerial acts, illuminated umbrellas and a strong sense of community spirit that stopped passers by in their tracks. The display offered an early glimpse of what visitors can expect across the weekend.
Now in its thirteenth year, Arts by the Sea runs from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 September. The free festival celebrates art, people and place, with events and performances spread across Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens, the seafront, the town centre and other nearby locations.
The headline show by Cirque Bijou premieres tonight with further performances planned for the weekend. Alongside it, a wide programme of parades, dance, music and large-scale visual moments is scheduled, designed to appeal to audiences of all ages.
The festival remains the South West’s largest free arts event and continues to draw residents and visitors alike into Bournemouth to enjoy creative experiences in public spaces.
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