Street level art fair brings crowd-pleasing theatre and pavement artists to town

The stunning, newly restored fascia of Blackburn Library provides the backdrop for a street market showcasing a diverse range of quality handmade and artist designed gifts, ceramics, paintings, cards and items for the home.  The monthly Town Hall Street Fairs are organised by Hopeful & Glorious, with the next one taking place on Saturday 18 July with large-scale street art activities for families and lots of free entertainment.
 
Funded by the Blackburn BID (Business Improvement District) the fair features a collection of curated arts and crafts stalls under gaily coloured, traditional market stalls on one of the Blackburn's oldest pedestrianized areas, once known as Thunder Alley.  
 
The event on 18th July starts at 10am and also features a piece of street art by creative arts company, Urban Canvas. Using a 500 year old chalking technique, and introducing poster paints, artist’s pastels and pavement chalks, this installation aims to create a massive works of art on King William Street.  Blackburn BID Manager, Harriet explained, 'Everybody gets the chance to take part in creating this piece, even those just passing by won’t be able to resist stopping to help for a moment, or popping back to see how things are going. The end result is a beautiful piece of art that everyone feels a part of!'
 
Circus Sensible present stilt walkers and face painting through the day, whilst theatre company, Pif Paf Arts will also be presenting crowd-pulling bicycle based outdoor street theatre shows outside the Town Hall. They will be using two mechanical time travelling-storytelling contraptions called The Flycycle and The Subcycle. The Melody Man will be bringing a fairground organ to provide a traditional soundscape to entertain the crowds.
 
Town Hall Street Fair, Blackburn
10am – 5pm
Saturday 18 July

Photography:  The Flycycle and The Subcycle (Pif Paf Arts),   Urban Canvas, chalk artist