Albert Road festival aims to boost city's culture campaign
A festival celebrating one of Southsea's best-known streets is set to get cultural this year.
Thousands of people will once again crowd into Albert Road to enjoy live music, art, street performers, refreshments and a fashion show on Sunday, September 27.
The street party – called Love Albert Road Day – is now in its third year.
But this year organisers wanted to celebrate the street's culture and so have renamed it Love Albert Road, Love Culture.
Ian Parmiter, chief organiser and owner of Parmiters Antiques, hoped it could boost Portsmouth City Council's bid to become the UK's first City of Culture for 2013.
'It is events like this that give Portsmouth a chance with the culture bid,' he said.
'Albert Road is Portsmouth's best-loved road and the day is a celebration of that and what the road has to offer.
'If we can put on a successful event like this then Portsmouth has got a chance of taking the title.
'This is the only event that is put on by the people of Portsmouth and it is such a friendly atmosphere; people can't believe it that we never have any trouble.'
Last year's event saw 50,000 people attend.
This year organisers are hoping for the same numbers and are putting on six music stages throughout the day including folk, world, family, disco and alternative.
The day, which will also have twice as many acts, performers and attractions as last year, will run from 10am to 5pm and the whole street will be closed off for the huge party.
Love Albert Road Day was set up two years ago by a group of independent shopkeepers to promote their street and give something back to the local community.
Co-ordinator Tim Hobbs said: 'Everybody is really behind the event.
'We have all been working hard – it is a year's hard work to get this organised.'
Go to lovealbertroad.co.uk for more details.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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