Promote Committee Meeting May 2026

Wednesday 13th May, 10am

UPCOMING CITY EVENTS

• Armed Forces Day: 27^th June

• Southend Pride Festival: 18^th July

• City Jam: 28^th – 30^th August.

• Seafront Fireworks: 3^rd October – 14^th November (dates tbc)

• Southend Food and Drink Festival: 23^rd October – 1^st November

• Halloween Parade: 31^st October

• Southend Switch On: 14^th November

Check back on VisitSouthend.co.uk for updates.

STREETSCAPE

Bunting and Baskets

• Installed end of March, will be removed mid-October to be replaced by the festive scheme.

Window Cleaning

• Gauge interest about a discounted rate for BID businesses to encourage frequent use.

Litter Pick

• Next date is Tuesday 21^st July from 10am – 11am

CHRISTMAS

Review of 2025

• Activity from 12pm covering full length of the High Street including crafting stations, busking spots, storytelling bus, markets. Marching band a fantastic addition.

• Amazing partnership again with BBC Essex again who drove promotion of the activity in the lead up to and have live coverage on the day alongside hosting the stage.

• Incredible sponsorship from headline sponsors Southend Theatres and supporting sponsorship from The Victoria Centre and Stambridge Group enabled us to make the event even bigger.

  
  

2026 Opportunities

Saturday 14^th November

• Choir for south end of the High Street

• Return of the kids trail but with venues staffing it themselves and we supply the craft.

• Return of storytelling bus.

• Art trail – potentially organise a school trail.

• Try to spread music further across the High Street through an extra busking spot perhaps.

• Keep the sing a long before the switch on, switch to playback of BID businesses and images of different events throughout the year.

• Put up promo boards after the Halloween parade.

• Switch On Star is already secured.

AOB

Visit Southend Website

• New site launching in June with sign up capabilities so newsletters can be sent, blog posts, and more.