Accessibility

First Light Festival is focussed on Lowestoft’s natural environment – the sun, sky, and stars, the beach and the sea.

First Light Festival takes place on Lowestoft’s South Beach, seafront promenades, and Kensington Gardens. Our unique setting is very beautiful, however, the natural environment and Victorian infrastructure may mean it is not easy to navigate for everyone.

We’ve 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 us at info@firstlightlowestoft.com.

At a glance

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 multiple venues
  • Complimentary Companion/Personal Assistant tickets to any of our paid Saturday Sundown events

Brochure

All of our events can be found online. If you would like a large print or audio version please email us at info@firstlightlowestoft.com.

Map

Signs featuring our Festival map will be featured throughout the festival, but you can also download one here.

BSL Interpreted Performances

We will have BSL interpretation, which we’re delivering in partnership with Deaf Connexions, at lots of performances across the festival weekend. Check out our BSL interpreted events.

Unfortunately, we don’t have provision for hearing loops.

Tickets

First Light Festival is free entry and you’re welcome to come and go as much as you like over the weekend.

Over 200+ events are free, and you don’t need a ticket. Our Saturday Sundown events are ticketed and take place in venues around Lowestoft once the free beach programme ends at 21:30.

You can find specific access information for each of the ticketed events by clicking the venue link through to our Sundown Events.

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 us info@firstlightfestival.com

Getting to the Festival

The best car park for step free access to the beach is Claremont Pier Carpark (opposite Claremont Pier).

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 a map of Blue Badge spaces  https://bluebadgeparking.com/view/52.463861%2C1.722352%2C52.479233%2C1.775352/road

All East Suffolk Council car parks use the Ring Go app, the best way to find a parking space www.myringgo.co.uk 

For information on getting to the site via public transport see our Travel Page.

Taxi

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

Beach Wheelchairs and Mobility Hire 

2 beach wheelchairs are available from East Suffolk Council. You can book these for free by emailing info@firstlightlowestoft.com.

Electric and manual wheelchairs and scooters are available for hire, daily or for holiday hire from:

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.

Toilets

Accessible toilets are available at :

  • Portable toilets on Kensington Road
  • Portable toilets on Jubilee Parade
  • 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 an approx 25 minute walk from the festival site.

Use of special effects

Unless otherwise stated, flicker, laser, strobe and other lighting effects will not be used in our performances.

Getting around the Festival site

South Beach is large and flat, comprising of very soft sand, becoming more pebbly closer the sea. We will install temporary trackway on the beach to several of the zones, as well as a small number of food concessions, a bar, information point, box office and toilets.

Kensington Gardens is a park with level tarmac pathways. Some routes have a small number of steps.

Kensington Garden Access Map

The Upper Esplanade is a wide, tarmaced path divided into 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 but many of these are very steep.

Festival Zones

The 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.

MoonDance

  • Wheelchair accessible via ramp onto trackway 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

  • This stage is only viewable from the beach. There is no trackway to this stage
  • Accessible using beach wheelchairs.

DJ in the Dunes

  • This stage is only viewable from the beach. There is no trackway to this stage
  • Accessible using beach wheelchairs.

Cosmic Pirates

  • There is no trackway to this area
  • These tents do not have a solid floor. All activities take place on the sand.
  • Accessible using beach wheelchairs.

 Wellbeing by the Waves

  • There is no trackway to this stage
  • 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 wheelchair users.

Planet Positive (including Power Positive, Interstellar Ideas and Charity Super.Mkt)

  • Wheelchair accessible via ramp onto trackway from Jubilee Parade.
  • Solid wooden floor inside
  • Seating available

Gardens Stage

  • The Gardens Stage can be enjoyed from the Boating Lake area of Kensington Gardens
  • The Boating Lake has level tarmacked pathways with grassed areas
  • Seating available.

Noon to Moon in the Japanese Gardens

  • The sunken area of Japanese Gardens is only accessible via a small number of steps which can be slippery when wet.

Makers Market

  • The Makers Market is situated on the Upper Esplanade, which has level, tarmaced path.

Street Food

  • Is situated on the Upper Esplanade, which has level, tarmaced path.

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