Big 7 Festival attracts record numbers

More than 35,000 people flocked to the borough to enjoy free live music and a whole range of events as part of Gravesham's Big 7 Festival.

The seven day event which began on Sunday 18 July, saw thousands of people come together to enjoy free theatre, music, dance and culture, with the annual Big Day Out bringing the week long event to a close on Saturday 24 July.

Events included a meet and greet with Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell on Tuesday 20 July, an evening under the stars watching the hit movie The Boat That Rocked on Wednesday 21 July, a charity cricket match on Thursday 22 July and an evening of free live music and dance at The Big Gig on Friday 23 July. The Big Gig more than a thousand people pack out the Promenade to see Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists and Gravesham Has Talent 2009 winners Taboo, and 'The Young Ones' star Adrian Edmondson perform live on stage.

Cabinet Member for Communities Cllr David Turner said: "This year's Big 7 and Big Day Out Festival attracted a record number of people to our wonderful borough who not only enjoyed great live music and entertainment, but also got to see some of the borough's best assets such as the AdiZone and its local sports, arts and heritage organisations.

"It was great to see so many families picnicking and soaking up the atmosphere."

Gravesham Borough Council's free Big 7 and Big Day Out festival was brought to you in partnership with the Gravesend Reporter, Kent Equality Cohesion Council and South Eastern Trains.

Local businesses also got involved with this year's event to offer mouth watering Big 7 food which included Danslow's very vegetarian kebabs, mighty meaty burgers and scrumptious sausages.

Free sports taster sessions got the gold at Saturday's Big Day Out as local sports clubs were on hand to show people of all ages how to ski, karate kick and trampoline at the Active Gravesham Arena. Professional fitness instructors, based at the AdiZone were also available to give free advice and tuition to people wanting to use the free outdoor sports facility.

Northfleet Carnival and the Summer Regatta attracted big crowds for their annual events, as did the main stage which saw fantastic performances from Gareth Malone's South Oxhey Community Choir, The Jive Aces, The Hayley Sisters, Jaz Dhami, a tribute to Glee, Eurovision star Josh Dubovie, 70s pop group Black Lace and top tribute act Kings of Lyon.