Headline act Slade performed at the WisBEACH Rock Festival, alongside ABBA and Blondie tribute acts as 15 groups and artists took part on Sunday, August 8.
Councillor Sam Hoy, chair of Wisbech Town Council’s community events and festivals committee which helped organise the event, was delighted with the turnout.
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
She said: “There were around 4,000 people and as the weather changed, it got busier throughout the day.
Thousands-attend-WisBEACH-Rock-Festival
"I think this was the biggest event we have had.
“We’ve lived in a surreal world over the last 18 months and on Sunday, people were living again.”
![Wisbech Standard: Cllr Sam Hoy said this year's WisBEACH Rock Festival was the biggest yet.]( "Wisbech Standard: Cllr Sam Hoy said this year's WisBEACH Rock Festival was the biggest yet.")
Cllr Sam Hoy said this year's WisBEACH Rock Festival was the biggest yet. (Image: Kim Taylor)
The nine-hour event also saw numerous charity stalls and fundraising activities for families to enjoy, including a ‘beach’ for children and festival-themed vendors.
One spectacle that took place was the mayor’s charity chair dunk, before the mayor Cllr Andrew Lynn announced that the event had officially begun.
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
Cllr Hoy and the mayor had even volunteered to sit in the dunk chair and thanks to Wisbech in Bloom’s offer of their water bowser, balloons quickly filled to burst over the target’s heads.
As the crowds began to grow, both the main and local stages were getting busier.
The Brink and Roy McManus graced the fans, followed by Light Skies Darken, Matt McChlery, Kill Me Kate and The John Noakes Experience to name but a few.
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
Ahead of the summer extravaganza, there was doubt the event may not go ahead due to Covid-19 guidelines, despite restrictions easing last month.
“Some people wore masks and kept distanced, but most people felt as it was outdoors, there’s a lot more circulation so they felt safer,” Cllr Hoy said.
“The knock-on effects of Covid are serious and how isolated people have felt, and not to see friends and family, I think it has had a massive impact.”
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
There was an area set aside for children and families, with many choosing to build sandcastles amongst an array of fairground rides, even if the weather was not at its best.
“It was a really great day and it was nice to see so many people come and have a great time,” Cllr Hoy added.
“I hope we are at the back end of this and life is starting to return to normal."
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
![Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.]( "Wisbech Standard: Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival.")
Thousands turned up to watch Slade and others at Wisbech Park as the town council staged its annual WisBEACH Rock Festival. (Image: Kim Taylor)
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