Thousands turn out for Southend's first City Day festival
Thousands of people joined celebrations for Southend's first City Day. The event on Saturday was held three years to the date since the area was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.The all-day festival included live performances from actors, singers and dancers, and was headlined by Basildon-born actress and presenter Denise Van Outen, who hosted a DJ set in the evening.Southend City Council leader, Labour's Daniel Cowan, said some 50,000 people enjoyed the "amazing" event. "City Day is about showing people what Southend is, and really trying to capture that civic pride that we want all people to have in the place that they live," he said.
Southend City Stage and the Southend City Songwriters Stage saw community choirs, amateur dramatic groups and bands performing.
More than 30 artists helped to transform the city centre with their street art at a live outdoor painting event, led by local artist Andy Downes.People with street-facing windows were encouraged to decorate them for the day.
The bestowment of city status came after a lifetime of campaigning from Southend's former MP, Sir David Amess, a veteran Conservative and Southend West MP.Sir David's greatest wish was awarded a year after he was murdered during a constituency surgery in October 2021.
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