Frequency International Festival of Digital Culture will wow audiences with four packed days of digital, culture and tech starting on Thursday.
Streets, screens and public spaces across the city will be bursting with exciting exhibitions, talks, workshops and live performances by artists. It will take place in Lincoln city centre from October 24-27 (10am-5pm daily, but until 9pm on Friday).
The festival as a whole is free, but there are some ticketed events at a cost.
The theme of the 2019 festival is ‘Disruption = Cultural Reinvention’ and the festival programme will aim to challenge perceptions, capture imaginations and inspire change.
The fifth edition of the festival features over 30 events. The Lincolnite has compiled a list of ten highlights to give a full flavour of this year’s festival.
Frequency Festival 2019 highlights
The Fabratory
Driverless Car Challenge. Photo: Siemens
When: Thursday, October 24 until Sunday, October 27 (11am-4pm) Where: Cornhill, High Street, Lincoln
A family-friendly space with workshops and activities for young curious minds, suitable for ages 5 and up. Build fantastic Lego WeDo models with JuniorStem, then learn to program sensors, motors and lights to bring them to life. It also includes playing interactive games and competing with friends in a Driverless Car Challenge by Siemens.
When: Friday, October 25 (5pm-9pm) Where: Starts at Lincoln Castle
See the city and festival in a different light with exhibitions, installations, events and happenings until 9pm. Take a twilight stroll and revel in cutting-edge international art and performances. Dancers from Lincoln and North Hykeham will be travelling from uphill to downhill Lincoln for a Digital Light Box Parade.
When: Friday, October 25 (4pm-9pm) Where: Lincoln Castle
Illumaphonium:Halo is a sculpture, an instrument, an environment. Using sound, light, algorithms and digital sensors, inventor Michael Davis has created an immensely satisfying, creative and magical experience to immerse yourself in.
When: Thursday, October 24 until Sunday, October 27 (10am-5pm, suitable for ages 13+) Where: St Benedict’s Centre (off High Street)
The VR Storyroom, created by MBD, is home to a series of Virtual Reality installations and experiences. Travel through time and space to meet a long extinct dinosaur, or be transported back to the trenches of World War One. Put a headset on, close the door and explore.
When: Friday, October 25 (7.30pm) Where: Lincoln Performing Arts Centre (LPAC) Cost: Tickets available to book on LPAC website priced at £12.50 (Full) and £5 (LIVE pass – students & Under 26s)
Three dancers unite in an amplified environment. Shotgun microphones, custom-made instruments, plate reverbs and amplified boxes capture the rhythms and sounds. Sampled and processed live by composer Jo Willis, the dancers become the band, creating a new type of dance music/music dance.
When: Thursday, October 24 to Sunday, October 27 (10am-5pm) Where: Cobb Hall, The Castle
Care(less) is a new 360 degree film work by artist Lindsay Seers. It uses Virtual Reality technology to give you the opportunity to feel what it might be like to be in the body of an older person facing a gradual reduction in capacity.
When: Thursday, October 24 (7.30pm) Where: Lincoln Drill Hall Cost: This is a Pay What You Decide event – click here for more details
Meet David. From the safety of your seat, through a custom-built app, your every tap, swipe and swirl will inform who David becomes. A live performance and gaming experience where your choices become data, uploaded to shape a human being.
When: Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27 (10am-5pm) Where: Lincoln Drill Hall
Layers of projections and screens create an invisible cube of images, with light spilling onto the walls, ceiling and floor. Your movement triggers sensors and reveals more visual information. Surround sound will immerse you and your body will become part of the projection.
When: Thursday, October 24 until Sunday, October 27 (10am-5pm) Where: Mr Dryclean, Silver Street
Play a traditional seaside arcade game with a political twist. In a direct response to Donald Trump’s infamous brag that he just grabs women by a certain part of their anatomy, this claw grabber machine replaces cuddly toys with ‘Make America Great Again’ merchandise.
When: Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 (Friday 3.30pm & 6pm, Saturday 10.30am, 2pm & 5pm) Where: Lincoln Drill Hall (starting in The Room Upstairs) Cost: £40 (cover one car load of participants – four people) – click here to buy tickets
Thrust into the heart of a spy thriller, you’ll navigate the political scandal of the decade. Staking out a multi-storey car park you must use every mode of surveillance to hunt down facts and intercept evidence.
*This is suitable for 16+ and under 18s should be accompanied by a responsible adult
Frequency Festival is presented by creative producers Threshold Studios, with the support of Arts Council England, University of Lincoln and a select range of city wide partners and businesses.
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Residents, visitors, and traders have expressed their disappointment following the cancellation of the beloved Lincoln Christmas Market, on what would have been the inaugural day of this year’s four-day event.
Although the poor weather might have deterred some people, the city’s Bailgate area was notably quiet around 12pm on Thursday, typically the time the event usually opens its doors.
Although Lincoln’s famous Christmas Market is no more this year, and won’t be opening today, there are still alternative festive events happening in Lincoln.
City of Lincoln Council’s decision to cancel the 40-year-old event over safety concerns prompted backlash from people and business but, despite pleas from opposition members, its leaders would not change their stance.
There are, however, still some events in Lincoln to get you in the festive mood this week, including these highlights:
Christmas Market at County Assembly Rooms
The County Assembly Rooms in the Bailgate will still hold its own Christmas Market that it has done for many years.
Manager Gill Hunter said stallholders had already pre-booked and 70% still wanted to do it despite the cancellation of the city’s 40-year-old Christmas Market in uphill Lincoln.
There will be a range of festive stalls, food, drinks and performers when it opens at the following times:
Thursday, December 7 (4pm-9pm)
Friday, December 8 (10am-9pm)
Saturday, December 9 (10am-9pm)
Sunday, December 10 (10am-7pm)
This coincides with the free parking at selected city council car parks in uphill Lincoln on Thursday and Friday. This is available at these car parks: Westgate 1,2,3, St Pauls, Castle Hill, The Lawn, and Langworthgate
The bar at The County Assembly Rooms will be serving hot chocolate, festive sandwiches, alcoholic beverages and more. There will also be a brewery selling bottle ale and roasted hot chestnuts will also be available to buy.
Lincoln Castle Illuminated
Lincoln Castle Illuminated will run from Friday, December 8 until Saturday, December 23.
The Castle grounds will be bejewelled with festive lights and illuminated Christmas features. You can take a drip down Candy Cane Lane and also see the resident Castle dragons Lucy and Norman.
The Castle has retained its popular Illuminated Wall Walk, but the lift is currently out of action so it can only be accessed via the spiral staircase.
You can also board the ‘Mini Polar Express’ and enjoy traditional fairground rides.
In addition, there will be local vendors offering sweet treats and winter warmers, including hot chocolate and mulled wine.
Dog friendly evenings will take place on December 13 and 20.
The full Lincoln Castle Illuminated experience costs £11 for adults, £10 for concessions, £6 for children, and £28 for family tickets. Alternatively, you can choose to visit the grounds only for £3 per head (free for under 5s).
Festive fun at Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral will be hosting an array of festive events this month, including during what would have been the Christmas Market period.
Crafters market in the Cloisters – December 8 and 9 (10.30am-4.30pm)
Nativity Crafts – December 9 (10am-3.30pm)
London Concertante: Christmas at the Movies – December 9 (7.30pm). Ticket prices range from £33.99 to £47.72
‘After Hours’: Walking towards Christmas – December 10 (6.45pm)
Winter Market at Lincoln Museum
Lincoln Museum on Danes Terrace is holding a Winter Market on Saturday, December 9, which has been organised by Shelf Editions.
There will also be workshops to take part in including metal wreath (£45) and felt decoration (£15) making, which can be booked via the museum’s website.
For the younger visitors there is also a free drop-in Calendar wreath craft session with the Elbow Room Collective.
Entry to the market is free from 10am-4pm with the cafe serving a festive menu from 11am-3pm.
Lincoln Ice Trail
Lincoln Ice Trail will run from 10am-8pm on Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10.
There will be 20 Lincoln-themed ice sculptures to find – you can pick up a map of the trail from the Visitor Information Centre.
In addition, there will be festive entertainment, as well as live-ice carving demonstrations of the Cathedral.
The Travelling Historical Christmas Market
Although this event is next week, The Travelling Historical Christmas Market offers another festive alternative for people in Lincoln.
The free event will take place at St Mary le Wigford Church on St Mary’s Street between December 14 and 17 at the following times: