Hi!Street Fest is coming to Gloucester City centre on 1st July 2023 and the organisers have invited the retailers on Westgate Street to join in with the celebrations!
“This event represents the celebration of the regeneration work delivered through High Street Heritage Action Zone. Â Please join us in efforts to revitalise our amazing High Street!
Hi!Street Fest is a programme of magical street events, celebrating what’s special about our high streets. In partnership with Historic England, Emergency Exit Arts (EEA the people who produced the Queen’s Coronation Carnival Event) have been working with residents of six towns and cities to develop and curate a magical street event bringing everyone together to welcome a curious fox named Farrah to their place and celebrate what’s special about it. These events act as a wonderful finale celebration for Historic England’s High Streets Heritage Action Zones, the four-year programme to revitalise more than 60 high streets across England. Gloucester is one of these cities!oric Engamd
The Gloucester leg of Hi!Street Fest will feature giant puppets of Sabrina (3m tall, ancient spirit of River Severn and Gloucester’s oldest resident) and Farrah the Fox (5m tall, the visitor, on a scooter!) leading a procession which will connect a variety of performances animating  Kings Square, the Cross, Westgate Street, Shire Hall and finally a grand finale in the Cathedral grounds.
In the run up to the event – we are working hand in hand with numerous local organisations, community groups and individual artists on engagement of Gloucester residents to produce installations that inspire imagination and reference our rich local history.
This is a huge event for Gloucester with a National marketing campaign from Historic England. An important date is 9 June when Westgate Street becomes an artist’s installation of the River Severn  – with the catenaries being adorned with 3D river sculptures and flags and bunting and the empty shops of Westgate featuring work from local artists and residents.
We are giving the businesses on Westgate Street the opportunity to be a part of this exciting installation.
There are various ways that you can get involved depending on how creative you and your staff are feeling. Every involvement is welcome and appreciated.
Display the Hi!Street Fest Watery poster – these will be issued soon.
Join in with the river bed theme and use chalk window pens to draw the stencils of river life onto your windows, we have crayfish, otters, fish, reeds and all sorts of river creatures in large scale. (Chalk pens are easily wash off able!) Email for how to arrange.
Create your own river themed display using browns, greys, greens, silvers and blues.
This installation will create a festive and mysterious setting for the arrival of Sabrina and help create awareness of the coming event among the residents and visitors.
We are looking forward to hearing from you about how you can help enliven your Hi!Street.”
