Arts, culture and events
Luton
Luton hosts many festivals throughout the year, including the Luton International Carnival which attracts over 160,000 visitors every year.
The carnival is one of the largest in the country, second only to the Notting Hill carnival.
Luton also hosts Filmstock, one of the fastest growing film festivals in the UK, as well as the popular St Patrick’s Festival and Parade.
The town also offers the following activities and events each year:
- Luton Mela – the annual celebration of traditional and contemporary Asian culture, food and music
- Luton Firework Spectacular – Held annually, on a Saturday evening closest to November 5
- Wardown Park Museum which have displays exploring the stories of Lutonian people over the past 150 years
- Stockwood Park Museum is home to the Mossman collection of horse-drawn vehicles, which illustrates the development of road transport in Britain from Roman times to the 1930s. There are also period gardens and a collection of work by international artist, Ian Hamilton Finlay
- Nature Conservation – Galley and Warden Hills was named as Luton’s first nature reserve. It’s a Site of Special Scientific Interest that is managed by the Nature Conservation Service because of its wide range of chalk grassland, wild flowers and butterflies.
- Annual Fairgrounds in Stockwood Park and Wardown Park
- The Hat Factory is an arts facility in the centre of Luton that seeks to develop the arts in the town and surrounding region. It offers a wide range of entertainment and many student discounts
- Dance classes – You can take up workshops and dance training in contemporary styles such as South Asian Dance, street, Bollywood and Bhangra dance, and many more
- Whipsnade Zoo - a great Bedfordshire attraction - visitors can see examples of exotic wildlife and experience a wide range of exhibits
- The Library Theatre - visitors can see great stage acting including contributions from amateur acts. Films are also shown at reasonable prices and there is also a bar
- Live Music - occasional live music and other cultural events in the town centre over the summer is also a popular feature
- Luton Borough Council also features various cultural exhibitions. Luton Central library gallery space is dedicated to showcasing the work of local artists
