Harleston’s Future

Harleston’s Future is an independent, voluntary group committed to supporting the Town Council, local businesses and community life in Harleston. We work closely with the Town Council, local businesses and other groups, to organise a range of activities for the benefit of Harleston residents, the surrounding communities and visitors.

As well as organising community events and street markets, the Film Group runs a monthly cinema (with a matinee and evening screening on the last Thursday of the month); Flag Force provides a colourful array of flags throughout the year, with wonderful bunting in the summer months; and the Environment Group helps address issues in and around the town and aims to provide a better home for wildlife including through the Swift Action Group.

This year, 2022, Harleston’s Future will be joining with the Town Council and other local organisations and businesses to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee over the bank holiday weekend 2- 5 June. After the last couple of years dominated by covid, everyone is hoping that the sun will shine and we can all come together and enjoy ourselves.

The annual Food and Drink Festival will be the 17 September (to be confirmed) and building on last year’s success we are looking forward to a bigger and better event this year with lots of involvement from our excellent local producers and retailers. There will also be a Christmas Market, with the normal Christmas “festivities” including a themed best shop window competition.

Looking ahead to 2023, we hope it will be back to business as normal with the regular events listed above as well as the Antiques Market and Street Party which will return for its normal fathers’ day spot in June. There will also be the ever-popular biennial Open Gardens to look forward to, which will be back to its normal early summer spot. The Harleston and Waveney Festival will also be making a return in the week running up to the August bank holiday weekend. We rely on the support of volunteers. New supporters are always welcome and it is a great way to meet new people and get involved with your community. If you are interested and want to know more or have ideas for events and activities you would like to see in Harleston please contact us on info@visitharleston.org.uk or come and chat to us at one of our events.

Please check the website www.vistharleston.org.uk for further information about the activities organised by Harleston’s Future.

The Harleston, Norfolk community made 1000 origami peace-cranes, each with tiny swifts printed on the wingtips. The wingtips were cut from the cranes and placed into two plastic spheres. One of the spheres was mounted on a display card and sent 36 miles into the sky above Death Valley, California. On the day it was undoubtedly the highest community peace message in the world and perhaps among the highest in history. The second sphere was taken to Japan and left in the Hiroshima Children’s Peace Park.