April 11, 2019 4.36 pm This story is over 67 months old

Spark engineering festival returns to Lincoln next month

Interactive displays and exhibits at Lincoln Cathedral in May
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A free three-day engineering festival expected to attract thousands of people will return to Lincoln next month.

Spark Festival will run from May 3-5 at Lincoln Cathedral to celebrate Lincolnshire’s excellence in engineering. The event will also be open to local schools on Friday, May 3.

It aims to promote Lincolnshire as an engineering hotspot and inspire local young people to consider a career in the industry.

There will be a number of interactive displays and exhibits including a showcase of early civil engineering archaeology to show the historic roots of engineering.

Scenes from the Spark Engineering Festival in 2015

Science busking demonstrations will take place and there will also be a 50 foot timeline detailing the evolution of the industry.

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Siemens will be the headline sponsor at the biennial festival. For the first time ever the event will incorporate civil engineering with an opportunity to find out more about Lincoln’s new Eastern Bypass.

The Institution of Civil Engineers ‘Bridge to Schools’ is an addition to this year’s event. There will also be the return of exhibits from top engineering businesses.

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Over 9,000 people have attended across the event weekend in previous years.

Chair of the Spark Engineering Festival steering group John Latham said: “It is incredibly important to encourage an interest in engineering from a young age so children understand the benefit of science and maths.

“We want to give an insight into the career opportunities on offer in this sector so a real focus can be given to the skills needed in early education.”