Theatre, opera, concerts, sports, art, heritage, culture and festivals – all this and more can be found in East Lindsey all year long

AMATEUR performers from across East Lindsey will join forces with some of the UK’s most prestigious artists as past of a district-wide programme of entertainment, culture, sport and heritage.

Now in its third year, East Lindsey Live has picked up pace and this year includes some truly unique sights and sounds. Proving that the East Coast is more than just a summer resort, entertainment, events and attractions now stretch far beyond the traditional holiday season and well into December.

A dedicated website features all of the events lined up so far, with more being added all the time. Just some of the events already planned for April include craft markets in Alford, theatre productions in Louth, concerts in Horncastle and open gardens in Fotherby; in May you can find musicals in Louth, a regency festival and costume ball in Horncastle, art exhibitions in Mablethorpe and photography tutorials in Skegness; and June brings us sports tournaments in Skegness, opera in Louth and Sleeping beauty in Horncastle as well as the start of the SO Festival 2013; and you can catch the England Women’s v Pakistan One Day International Cricket in July.  For a comprehensive list visit  www.eastlindseylive.org

And, although the 2013 calendar is already starting to fill up fast, there is still time for event organisers to sign up and showcase their own events. The programme is co-ordinated by East Lindsey District Council as a way to highlight events together and to raise the profile of what is happening in the district amongst local people and visitors, and in turn benefiting the local economy.

Signing up to East Lindsey Live is free and in doing so event organisers will be able to use the East Lindsey Live logo on all publicity material to show their event is part of the district-wide cultural celebration.  Event organisers will also receive a listing on the East Lindsey Live website, a PR and marketing pack to help them in promoting their own event; promotion on Facebook and Twitter and inclusion in the District Council’s Community Magazine, Messenger.

Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure and Tourism at East Lindsey District Council, Councillor Adam Grist, said: “The 2013 East Lindsey Live programme is shaping up to be an exciting and eventful one. It is a fantastic way to raise the profile of the district and at the same time create opportunities for local people to develop new skills through volunteering. Where else can you see such a wealth of talent and entertainment in one place? I would encourage all event organisers to join the programme of events and make this year’s programme the biggest yet.”

As well as individual events, East Lindsey District Council has already announced the dates for two of the festivals it is organising in the East Lindsey Live programme – the SO Festival and Wolds Words.   The SO Festival will take place across East Lindsey from June 28 to July 7 and Wolds Words will take place in and around Louth from October 16 to 20.  The programming for both festivals will be available soon.

Tourism is worth £480m to East Lindsey’s economy each year, creating thousands of jobs in hotels, bars, shops, restaurants and supply business. Last year VisitEngland announced that Skegness was the fifth most visited place in the country.

To sign up to East Lindsey Live visit www.eastlindseylive.org, contact the Cultural Team on 01507 613452, or email culture@e-lindsey.gov.uk