Aylesbury aims for gold with free family-friendly celebration to mark Paralympics
Archived press release
Date Published: 15/08/12
The World Famous - fireworks
Aylesbury will celebrate the London 2012 Paralympic Games in style with an eight hour extravaganza of free entertainment.
The celebration event will be held in Aylesbury town centre from 2pm to 10pm on 28 August to mark the creation of the Paralympic Flame at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympic Games.
The family-friendly show, organised by Aylesbury Vale District Council, will feature exciting performances that are directly inspired by the London 2012 Games.
Live footage from the Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium will be shown on big screens in Market Square and Kingsbury from 5.30pm as part of the evening programme.
Viewing areas in both Kingsbury and Market Square will be closed once they reach capacity, so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Spectators who are unable to access the Market Square or Kingsbury will be able to view the Paralympic Torch Relay as it arrived in the town centre from 8.40pm.
Top UK folk artist Eliza Carthy and director Robert Hollingworth will be attending the celebration event to perform their acclaimed Welcome Songs show. It’s a collection of celebratory songs influenced by traditional English folk music, which will be performed by Carthy in Kingsbury, along with internationally renowned vocal ensemble I Fagiolini and a community choir.
There will also be a large scale outdoor performance specifically commissioned for the flame celebration event in Aylesbury. Taking inspiration from the spirit and vision of Paralympic athletes, Starting Line is a ground breaking performance of dance, film, visual art and sound performed by disabled and able-bodied young people from around the globe.
Aylesbury aims for gold with free family-friendly celebration to mark Paralympics
As daylight fades the Paralympic Torch will leave Stoke Mandeville Stadium and visit Market Square, where it will signal a dramatic climax to the town centre event. Details of the finale are a closely guarded secret, but spectators can expect a sensory spectacular of 3D video projection, fire beacons, music and top quality pyrotechnics.
The finale will be led by internationally renowned arts organisations The World Famous and
Shared Space and Light.
Disabled people have been invited to enter a ballot for tickets to a premier viewing area in Market Square which will have uninterrupted views of the celebrations. There will also be an accessible viewing area in Kingsbury for disabled people and carers with views of a big screen.
Paralympic sports demonstrations, community performances and creative workshops are just some of the things planned for the day programme between 2pm and 5.30pm.
The Aces Wheelchair Basketball Club will be running a 'have a go' wheelchair basketball session in Friars Square Shopping Centre from 2pm to 4pm. The shopping centre will also play host to lantern workshops from 10am to 4pm, where children will have the chance to make a memorable torch lantern to carry at the evening celebration or when lining the streets to view the Paralympic Torch relay itself. There will also be an exciting workshop giving people the opportunity to play drums from around the world and experience what it’s like to play in a band.
In addition, StopGAP, one of the UK's leading integrated dance companies, Festive Road, a Milton Keynes-based arts company, and local dance group Musical Kidz Company will be performing in Kingsbury at various times between 2pm and 5.30pm.
The town centre car parks will be staying open until 11pm on the day and parking will cost just £1 from 4.30pm onwards. There will be a dedicated drop-off point for disabled spectators in the town centre and blue badge parking will be available in Exchange Street car park.
Chiltern Railways are providing a shuttle service every 30 minutes from Aylesbury Vale Parkway Station to Aylesbury Station between 5pm and 9pm and 10pm and 11.30pm.
Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “The celebration event will give the whole family a chance to share the excitement of the Paralympic Games as the world counts down to the official opening ceremony in London. It is a unique opportunity for the town to put on a show that we will all remember on what is a very special occasion. I would encourage everyone to come along and enjoy the carnival atmosphere.”
Aylesbury is one of 34 communities across the country that will host flame celebrations as part of the 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay. Arts Council England awarded a £130,000 grant to AVDC to help fund its celebration event.
Four flames will be lit to mark the Paralympic Games and the Paralympic Torch Relay – one each in London (24 August), Greater Belfast (25 August), Edinburgh (26 August) and Cardiff (27 August).
The four flames will be united at the Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury on 28 August. This prestige event will commence at 4.30pm with a number of exciting performances, presentations and inspirational speeches.
Following the event, a 24 hour torch relay will take place, stopping off in Aylesbury town centre, before the flame continues to the Olympic Stadium in East London for the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games.
For more information visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/london2012 or call 01296 585301.