First Light Festival takes place on Lowestoft’s South Beach, seafront promenades and Kensington Gardens. Whilst our unique setting is very beautiful, the natural environment and Victorian infrastructure may mean it is not easy to navigate for everyone.
We have compiled the guide below to help you plan your visit and consider what support and/or equipment you might need to enjoy the festival.
If there are ways that we can make First Light Festival more accessible to you, or if you have any access questions not answered on this page, please email Robbie at info@firstlightlowestoft.com.
At a glace
Some of the ways we are trying to remove barriers to the festival include:
-BSL interpretation available at a series of events
– Two beach wheel chairs which can be booked out for free ahead of time or on the day (availability dependent)
– Trackway on the beach between some venues
– Complimentary Companion tickets to any of our paid Saturday Sundown events
– Designated quiet zone
Details for these can be found on this page.
Brochure
All of our events can be found online. If you would like a large print or audio version please email Robbie at info@firstlightlowestoft.com..
BSL Interpreted Performances
We will have BSL interpretation at multiple performances across the festival weekend. We are currently finalising this programme, which we will publish on this page once confirmed. We hope to have a range of different types of events made accessible to signing audiences, but if there’s anything in particular you would like to be interpreted, let us know by emailing Robbie at robbie@firstlightlowestoft.com.
Tickets
First Light Festival is free entry and you are welcome to come and go as much as you like over the weekend.
Over 100+ events are free and unticketed. A handful of add-on events are ticketed, and most of these are our Saturday Sundown events which take place in venues around Lowestoft once the free beach programme ends at 21:30 Dusk. These are:
Luke Una Afterparty at Mossy’s
Silent Disco at East Point Pavilion
Dreamscape Playlist at St John and St Peter Church
Robin Ince at Seagull Theatre
Jazz Night at Royal Suffolk & Norfolk Yacht Club
These events are in various venues around Lowestoft, so you can find specific access information for each event by clicking the link through to the event page.
We are happy to provide a complimentary Personal Assistant ticket for each paid-for ticket. If you would like to book a free PA ticket, please email Robbie at info@firstlightfestival.com
Getting there
The best car park for step free access to the beach is Kirkley Cliff Carpark (opposite Claremont Pier). Although this carpark will be closed to the public, there are 4 designated disabled bays which are accessible to blue badge holders. To access these, please approach the carpark and alert one of our staff members that you would like to access these.
Otherwise, there are a small number of allocated disabled bays on London Road South near the shops and on street parking on Kirkley Cliff Road and Pakefield Road near Kensington Gardens. For further information regarding blue badge on-street parking visit https://www.gov.uk/blue-badge-scheme-information-council
Disabled Accredited Parking spaces can be found here: https://www.dpaccreditation.org.uk/.
All East Suffolk Council car parks, including those on the seafront use the Ring Go app and is convenient for all car drivers https://www.myringgo.co.uk/?style=m/ .
For information on getting to the site via public transport see our Travel page.
The following taxi companies can provide facilities for wheelchair users who need to travel in their wheelchairs or scooters:
Atlas Private Hire 01502 500000
Dial-a ride bus – 01986 896896
Getting around the Festival site
South Beach is a large and flat, comprising of very soft sand, becoming more pebbly closer the sea. We will be putting in a temporary trackway on the beach for access to the Sunlight stage, Moon Dance and First Word as well as a small number of food concessions, a bar, information point, box office and toilets.
Kensington Gardens is mainly flat with tarmac paths. The Bowling Greens only have level access via the gate entrance from Kensington Road/Kirkley Cliff Road. All other access points have a small number of steps, including xx steps to get to the Boating Lake. The sunken area of Japanese Gardens is only accessible via a small number of steps which can be slippery when wet.
The Upper Esplanade is a wide, tarmacked path divided in a walkway for pedestrians and a cycle lane running from South Pier and East Point Pavilion to Kensington Gardens. It has a slight and steady incline from Claremont Pier to Kensington Gardens. It is approximately a 10-20 minute walk or wheel (depending on your speed) from Claremont Pier to Kensington Gardens. There are benches along the length of the Upper Esplanade for rests.
Jubilee Parade is a wide, flat and level tarmacked path from Claremont Pier to All Saints Road in Pakefield. It is approximately a 10-20 minute walk or wheel (depending on your speed) from Claremont Pier to the main festival site on the beach. There is a concrete wall that runs alongside it which is suitable for taking a seated rest enroute.
Additionally, there are various slopes and steps between the upper esplanade and jubilee parade
Key Distances
Here is the distance and average time it takes to get between some of the main venues at a leisurely walk or wheel. Stairs routes cut up the cliffside between the Upper Promenade and Jubilee Parade, while wheelchair routes access both Upper Promenade and Jubilee Parade by the ramp at Claremont Pier.
Kensington Gardens to Sunlight Stage
Stair Route:
Wheelchair Route:
MoonDance to Sunlight Stage
Stair Route:
Wheelchair Route:
MoonDance to First Word
Stair Route:
Wheelchair Route:
First Word to Sunlight Stage
Stair Route:
Wheelchair Route:
Kensington Gardens to East Point Pavilion
Stair Route:
Wheelchair Route:
Sunlight Stage to East Point Pavilion
Stair Route:
Wheelchair Route:
Wheelchairs and mobility hire
2 beach wheelchairs are available to hire from the First Light box office at the new beach huts on Jubilee Parade. These will be booked out on a first come, first served basis. To book a beach wheelchair, email Robbie info@firstlightlowestoft.com
Electric and manual wheelchairs and scooters are available for hire, daily or for holiday hire from:
– Lowestoft Shopmobility 01502 588857 lowestoftshopmob@btconnect.com
– Be-Active Mobility 01502 568848 or 0800 2118810
– East Coast Mobility 01502 514500
Assistant Dogs
Assistant dogs are welcome at First Light Festival, however please note that no other dogs are allowed on the beach at this time of year.
BSL and Captioning
Some events in the First Word tent, Sunlight Stage and Planet Positive will offer BSL, please see individual events on our Whats On page for further information.
Unfortunately we don’t not currently have provision for hearing loops.
Toilets
Accessible toilets are available at :
– Portable toilets on Kensington Road
– Portable toilets adjacent to the Beach Club
– Portable toilets adjacent to the Sunlight Stage.
– Pagoda public toilets on Jubilee Parade.
– East Point Pavilion public toilets
Accessible Toilets which require a RADAR key are available in Kensington Gardens.
RADAR keys can be purchased from the D.I.A.L. office (161, Rotterdam Road, Lowestoft NR32 2EZ), the Shopmobility office (15, Station Square, Lowestoft NR32 1BA) or online via the RADAR Key Company. To report damage or any issues regarding the toilets, telephone Waveney Norse on 01502 527100.
CHANGING PLACES – There is a changing places facility at East Point Pavilion, which is approximately 25 minutes walk from the festival site.
Festival Zones
Unless otherwise stated, flicker, laser, strobe and other lighting affects will not be used in our performances.
Sunlight Stage
Performances are viewable from the beach, trackway and Jubilee Parade. Please note this is public access and not a managed viewing area.
Seating is not provided
Moon Dance
Wheelchair accessible via ramp from Jubilee Parade.
Solid wooden floor inside
Seating available.
First Word
Wheelchair accessible via ramp onto trackway from Jubilee Parade.
Solid wooden floor inside
Seating available.
New Dawn Stage
Performances are viewable from the beach and Jubilee parade. Please note this is public access and not a managed viewing area.
Seating is not provided
DJ in the Dunes
The stage is raised and audience are on the sand.
Accessible using beach wheelchairs.
Cosmic Pirates
Access and activities are on the sand.
Accessible using beach wheelchairs.
Wellbeing by the Waves
Access and activities are on the sand.
Accessible using beach wheelchairs.
Wild Beach Camping
Access and activities are on the sand.
Wild Beach Camping is not suitable for wheelchairs
Planet Positive
The Bowling Greens only have level access via the gate entrance from Kensington Road/ Kirkley Cliff Road. All other access points have a small number of steps, including from the Boating Lake and Japanese Gardens.
Access ramps will be available from the path onto the bowling green.
Carpeted pathways on bowling green
Marquees all carpeted with seating available (some tents might be on request – please ask a member of staff).
Gardens stage
The Garden Stage can be enjoyed from the Boating Lake area of Kensington Gardens
The Boating Lake has level tarmacked pathways with grassed areas
Seating available.
Makers Market
The Makers Market is situated on The Upper Esplanade, which has level, tarmacked path
Food Street
The Food Zone is situated on The Upper Esplanade, which has level, tarmacked path