Beach 'festival' and giant sand art in Skegness to celebrate upcoming Tour of Britain race
Sand artists are to create a giant beach poster to celebrate the upcoming arrival of the Tour of Britain event to the town.
The unique seaside art will be created on Skegness seafront this week (Thursday, August 20) – close to the Pier.
“A talented team of sand artists will be on the beach to create an eye-catching feature - approximately 48m by 40m in dimension - drawn directly into the sand,” a spokesperson for East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) said. “The team will recreate a Tour poster celebrating the resort’s role in hosting one of the UK's most prestigious cycling events.”
Stage Two of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men’s race will start in Boston on September 3 before travelling 180.2km across Lincolnshire and finishing on the coast, bringing world-class cycling for thousands of spectators to witness across east Lincolnshire.
The promotional event, called ‘Oh I do like to ride beside the seaside’ will offer a festival atmosphere with street entertainers Yellow Bus Events performing from 11am-4pm in nearby Tower Gardens. Performances will include a street circus, walkaround musical acts, a motorised piano and performers from Swank Street Theatre.
The spokesperson added: “Residents and visitors alike will be encouraged to visit the seafront to see the sand drawing – produced by artists Sand in Your Eye – take shape, enjoy the entertainment and join the countdown to one of the biggest sporting events in Lincolnshire.”
Work on the sand drawing is expected to start in the afternoon and will continue into the early evening.
Coun Steve Kirk, Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy at ELDC, said: "As the finish town for Stage Two of the Lloyds Tour of Britain, Skegness is looking forward to welcoming riders, teams and spectators from across the country.
“The sand drawing and entertainment in Tower Gardens on August 20, before the main event on September 3, will help create a real sense of anticipation and demonstrate the unique character of our coast."
The Lloyds Tour is Britain's biggest professional cycle race and attracts some of the world's leading teams and riders. Stage Two, which takes competitors on a tour of East Lindsey, showcases Lincolnshire's landscapes, communities and visitor attractions before culminating in an exciting finish in Skegness.