Horrockses on Stilts – Encounter Festival 2026

A Large-Scale Community Procession & Stilt Walking Project for PrestonSomething spectacular is arriving in Preston this September…

Wolf Entertainments & Events presents Horrockses on Stilts, a large-scale participatory processional arts project commissioned for Encounter Festival 2026 in Preston, Lancashire.

Inspired by the iconic Horrockses Fashions textile legacy and Preston’s rich industrial history, the project combines illuminated stilt walking costumes, community arts workshops, wearable sculpture, live outdoor performance, and public procession to create a bold new celebration of creativity in the city centre.

Taking place across summer 2026 and culminating on 19 September 2026, the project will bring together artists, stilt performers, community participants, and partner organisations from across Preston to co-create a spectacular outdoor arts event for Encounter Festival and the opening of The Harris exhibition: “Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of British Ready-to-Wear”

Processional Arts & Outdoor Performance in Preston

Horrockses on Stilts forms part of the growing development of processional arts, outdoor theatre, and community-led spectacle in Preston ahead of Preston Guild 2032.

Led by Creative Director Joshua Holden of Wolf Entertainments & Events, the project builds on previous successful community stilt walking programmes which have already supported local participants into paid professional performance opportunities.

The project explores how large-scale public performance, heritage, costume design, and community participation can transform city spaces through movement, celebration, and collective creativity.

Illuminated Stilt Costumes Inspired by Horrockses Fashions

At the centre of the project are eight oversized illuminated stilt walking dresses, designed and handmade by Joshua Holden.

Inspired by the elegant silhouettes, fabrics, and visual identity of Horrockses Fashions, the costumes combine:

• Large sculptural hoop structures
• Illuminated costume design
• Handmade textile work
• Stilt walking performance
• Wearable art and outdoor spectacle

The costumes are designed specifically for large-scale outdoor procession and night-time festival performance, creating striking visual imagery within Preston city centre during Encounter Festival 2026.

Community Arts Workshops Across Preston

Throughout summer 2026, community participants will work alongside professional artists and facilitators through a series of public sewing workshops and creative participation sessions hosted across Preston.

Workshops will take place in collaboration with:

• The Gujarati Centre
• The Foxton Centre
• The Harris

Participants will collectively create a series of wearable dresses inspired by Horrockses textile patterns, fashion history, and Preston’s heritage within the British textile industry.

The workshops are designed to support:

• Creative participation
• Community connection
• Skills development
• Textile arts and sewing
• Inclusive arts engagement
• Public procession and outdoor performance–

Stilt Walking Workshops & Performer Development

As part of the project, Wolf Entertainments & Events will also deliver a dedicated stilt walking training programme for local performers in Preston.

The 6-week programme supports both new and returning stilt walkers through:

• Stilt walking workshops
• Performance training
• Rehearsal development
• Costume movement training
• Outdoor procession skills
• Confidence building and creative development

Several performers from previous stilt walking projects have already progressed into paid professional performance work within the outdoor arts and events sector.

The project aims to continue developing Preston’s growing community of local stilt performers and processional artists.

Encounter Festival 2026 Procession

The final public procession will take place during Encounter Festival 2026 on 19th September 2026

Audiences can expect:

• Illuminated stilt walkers
• Large-scale processional costume performance
• Community-created wearable art
• Outdoor theatre and spectacle
• Heritage-inspired visual storytelling
• Live festival atmosphere within Preston city centre

The procession will coincide with the opening celebrations for The Harris exhibition exploring the legacy of Horrockses Fashions and British ready-to-wear design.

Behind the Scenes Documentary Series

Throughout the project, behind-the-scenes documentary footage will capture:

• Costume construction
• Workshop activity
• Participant stories
• Stilt training sessions
• Rehearsals and fabrication
• Processional arts development in Preston
• Using immersive filming techniques and participant-led perspectives, the documentary series will explore the lived experience of becoming part of a large-scale public arts project.

Follow the journey as Horrockses on Stilts develops from first sketches and sewing tables into a full-scale illuminated procession for Encounter Festival 2026.

Project Partners & Support

Horrockses on Stilts is supported by:

• Arts Council England
• Lancashire Encounter Festival
• Preston City Council

About Wolf Entertainments & Events

Wolf Entertainments & Events creates large-scale outdoor arts, stilt walking performances, illuminated costumes, community workshops, and public spectacle experiences across the UK.Specialising in processional arts, carnival-inspired performance, and participatory outdoor events, the company develops visually striking experiences that combine professional performance with community collaboration.

Follow the Project

Follow Wolf Entertainments & Events for:

• Behind-the-scenes content
• Process updates
• Workshop announcements
• Stilt walking training
• Costume fabrication
• Encounter Festival updates

📍 Preston, Lancashire
📅 Encounter Festival 2026 – 19 September 2026