Hundreds of people partied the evening away on a barmy summer’s night at Grantham’s first Family Festival.
The town’s Market Place hosted live performers in an open-air concert led by headliners the RPJ Band whose lead singer, Rick Parfitt junior, encouraged those attending to embrace the festival atmosphere.
Revellers were singing along to rock and pop anthems while children danced enthusiastically around the Market Cross.
Pubs and bars, including Browns, Gravity and Tap & Tonic, opened earlier than usual on a Friday specially for the event and those seated at tables outside those venues as well as Edward’s Bar & Lounge and Westgate Bakery were encouraged to join in the fun.
Ahead of RPJ there were performances by local acts Becca Faye, Sons of Somnus and Duncan Fielding.
Joice Branco, who was there with her children Vanessa, 7, and Tania, 4, said: “Grantham needs more of this – it’s great.
“I come from Portugal and, when I go back, there is something on every week, every weekend. It’s wonderful to see similar things happening in Grantham.”
Paula Beard said: “I never imagined that Grantham Market Place could be used for something like this. It’s so much fun. We’re having a great time.”
Business owners described it as a brilliant first festival and said it was great to see people enjoying the Market Place and the music.
South Kesteven District Council’s Deputy Leader and its Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Paul Stokes, said: “The Family Festival was very impressive.
“It was the first time that we had tried something like this in Grantham Market Place and it demonstrated the type of activities that can be staged there.
“As always there are lessons that can be learned, but people had a great time and the event provided a boost to the early evening economy in Grantham with surrounding pubs busy.”
SKDC staff gave up their time as volunteer marshals.
More family-orientated events are planned for the Market Place, including three shows by the interactive dinosaur entertainment experience Dinomania on Sunday 17th August and outdoor cinema on Sunday 7th September with screenings of Paddington In Peru at 1pm and Despicable Me 4 at 5.30pm.
Joice Branco and daughters Vanessa, 7, (left) and Tania, 4.