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Lowestoft First Light Festival: 24-hour arts and music event returns

News imageJenny Kirk/BBC First Light Festival 2022Jenny Kirk/BBC
The festival was held on Lowestoft's South Beach

A 24-hour beach festival has returned after being cancelled twice because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The First Light Festival, in Lowestoft, Suffolk, ran from midday on Saturday until midday on Sunday.

The multi-arts and science event is held at the weekend closest to the summer solstice.

Festivalgoers at the country's most easterly point enjoyed patches of sunshine, but a storm struck late on Saturday.

The beach was lit up by lightning as the sculpture known as the Pakefield Man was set alight.

News imageTwitter:@mrs_goodspeed Burning man at First Light FestivalTwitter:@mrs_goodspeed
The crowd made excited noises as the lightning lit up the sky in Lowestoft
News imageRachael McMenemy/BBC First Light Festival 2022Rachael McMenemy/BBC
It began at midday on Saturday and had a programme of events spanning into Sunday
News imageJenny Kirk/BBC First Light Festival 2022Jenny Kirk/BBC
Headline acts included comedian Mark Thomas, DJ LTJ Bukem and jazz legend Andy Sheppard

The event was funded by East Suffolk Council and the Arts Council.

This year a half marathon was held, as well as a cycling challenge in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice, in Ipswich.

The inaugural First Light Festival in Lowestoft, was held in 2019 and attracted about 10,000 people.

News imageRachael McMenemy/BBC First Light Festival 2022Rachael McMenemy/BBC
The free 24-hour event includes a sunlight stage event at dawn, watching the sun rise above the sea
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