“The Anglo Saxon World of Beowulf” takes place from 4pm to 6.30pm This is a brand new work, set to an original score, inspired by the epic poem of Beowulf. If you’re not familiar with Beowulf, think Kings, Demons, Dragons, and epic battles in the 5th century

It’s a pinpointcreate production, supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund

Bring a chair and a picnic!

For a flavour of what to expect, see this YouTube clip:

Screenings took place at the Palace Theatre, the Park Inn Plaza and the Pod at South Essex College, and you can find out more about this year’s film festival at http://www.southendfilmfestival.com

The reason for this post? To draw your attention to this excellent clip that was created to draw attention to the Film Festival.

Southenders, take 24 seconds of your life to watch this creative video creation, the Southend Film Festival Ident:

Well done to those who put a lot of work into this year’s festival…

Southend Shakeaway opens in the Victoria Shopping Centre on Saturday 19th March 2011 at 1pm and we’re told that they’ll be giving away the first 50 milkshakes free.

The ShakeAway chain was established in 1999 and sells over 150 flavours of Milkshakes and hot drinks. A quick look at their site reveals that there’s a 10% discount for Uni, NHS, Army and Emergency Services (with valid ID). There’s also some interesting looking items on their menu, such as a Ferrero Rocher Milkshake (which appeals to us), as well as some odd items such as Jaffa Cake, Jammie Dodgers, Jelly Babies, Farleys Rusks and Sugar Puffs. The mind boggles.

Anyhoo – if unusual milkshakes are your thing, try for a freebie this Saturday…

As part of cost-cutting measures, this year’s airshow won’t run over the May Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday normal, but instead will take place on Saturday 28th May and Sunday 29th May 2011.

One of the reasons cited of moving the date of Southend’s famous Festival of The Air is the high cost of policing the event over a Bank Holiday.

This year’s event will be the 26th time that the airshow’s hit town, and of course, it’s free to the public.

Scene from Southend Airshow 2010

More on the event, plus pictures from the 2010 Southend Airshow,  on our Southend Airshow page.

All day today, Saturday the 5th of February 2011, there are a number of activities taking place to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The day’s events kicked off at 11am with a short speech by the Mayor of Southend, then an impressive display of Chinese lions dancing for the gather crowds outside and inside the Victoria Shopping Centre.

Chinese New Year 2011 celebrations kick off in Southend-on-Sea

Events include acrobatics in the Victoria Shopping Centre, lantern-making for the kids in The Royals, Origami, Tai Chi, Chinese Opera face painting, and a lantern parade on the high street at 4pm. The day wraps up at 4:10pm with a Chinese Lion Dance and a Firecracker Finale in York Road at 4:30pm.

Day’s New Year festivities are supported by the South Essex Chinese Association and Southend Radio.

Happy New Year, all!

The idea for a Sarfend Visitors book came from  ex-pat Brian Mendes, who now lives in Ontario, Canada. Brian is a regular in our Sarfend Forum, and a video message from Brian was played to the assembled crowd. Brian called in using Skype, and spoke to The Worshipful the Mayor of Southend-on-Sea Councillor Ann Holland, who was there in person for the event. Brian also spoke to some of the assembled users of our forum, plus the RNLI Gift Shop staff.

MEET, presenting the Sarfend Visitors Book to The Mayor

The Sarfend Visitors Book is now in place and ready for signing by all visitors to Southend Pier.

For photos of the event, plus some poetry, see www.sarfend.co.uk/visitorsbook

We’d like to encourage all of our site visitors and forum regulars to visit Southend Pier, where The Worshipful the Mayor of Southend-on-Sea, Councillor Ann Holland will be signing the Sarfend Visitors Book at 1pm.

We’ll be adding photos from the event tomorrow, so stay tuned.

More information: Sarfend Visitors Book

8pm tonight, Saturday the 30th of October, saw the start of the free fireworks display, with fireworks launched from a barge moored just to the East of Southend Pier.

Free fireworks at Southend Pier

Attached is a pic, live from the top level of the pier lift, which offers a great vantage point.

Update: Display now over – lasted just under 10 minutes. A decent display with a good mix of fireworks. View slighly hindered by smoke drifting to shore, and not helped by rotating spotlights from Adventure Island. Nonetheless, a good display, well received by the crowds around us. Well done chaps!

If you missed tonight’s display, there’s one more free display at the Pier, next Saturday, the 6th of November 2010 at 8pm

The new-look Mecca Southend Club, located on the Greyhound Retail Park has undergone a £1.5million refurb, and offers a bar, cafe, amusements, and of course, the chance to win with the magic bingo balls.

In readiness for the relaunches of their Southend and Dagenham clubs, Mecca Bingo turned the iconic Basildon sign from white to pink

There’s a re-launch party from 5.30pm on Thursday, and you may be able to get on the guest list by calling 01702 466003 – Details at http://www.meccabingo.com/southend/

In case you’re wondering that the photo’s all about – The Mecca in Dagenham has also had a facelift, and Mecca’s had fun with the Basildon-wood sign to help promote the launch.

Eyes down for a full house, this week at the Mecca on the Greyhound Retail Park.

The main focus of the annual August event is the fair held at Chalkwell Park. It’s open from 2pm to 10pm (8pm Sunday) with fairground rides, win-a-fluffy-thing stalls and lots of candyfloss.

The highlight of the carnival is the illuminated “torchlight” parade next Saturday. This kicks off at 7.45pm and travels East from Western Esplanade to the Castle Pub. It should reach the pier area (where most of the crowds congregate) at 8.40pm

Planning to go to the carnival? Details at programme at www.southend-on-seacarnival.org.uk

If you happen to be at the Odeon end of Southend High Street between today, the 29th of July, and Sunday the 1st of August, you’ll find a mini-arena, photo booth, a friendly Sky chap with a loud microphone and a tent demo’ing the latest offering from Sky – the Sky 3D service that’s launching in October 2010.

There’s lots of people with clipboards keen to sign you up to Sky, as well as to capture your personal details for Sky’s mailing list. You’ll also be able to pick up a goodie bag with a handy “Sky, Believe in better” notepad, a Sky Digital Switchover pen, and a leaflet for the good people of Canterbury in Kent.

It seems that last week, the roadshow was in Canterbury, and their goodie bags have yet to “switch over” to the Southend-on-Sea leaflets. D’oh, as Sky One’s Homer Simpson would say.

Sky Roadshow in Canterbury? Nope Southend!

Still, if you’re considering switching to Sky, want to know what 3D TV looks like, or just fancy a free pad ‘n’ pen, pop down to the Sky Roadshow on the High Street before Sunday afternoon.

Some tips:

• Do: Get £3 in cash for taking a 3 minute survey on your viewing habits by the ladies with clipboards
• Do: Enter the draw for a Sky+ package (if you’re OK handing over your address, that is)
• Do: Say hi to the lovely promotion girls Emma, Heidi and Anna (tell them we sent you!)
• Don’t: Sign up to Sky at the roadshow! The “Free Sky+ box” quoted on the Canterbury leaflet is also available online, but you get a £25 Marks and Spencer voucher if you sign up online (or £50 if you go HD) – Sign up online and get a voucher at www.sky.com/shop for a better deal
• Don’t: Forget the free pad and pen

For details of how the Digital Switchover affects Southend, go to www.southendswitch.co.uk

If you’re interested, there’s a small selection of photos of the 2010 Leigh Folk Festival, the 19th annual event, here: Leigh Folk Festival Summary

Well done to the organisers for another unique and eclectic mix of events and culture, and to the performers, musicians, dancers and singers for performing so well despite the heat!

Ending today was a very noisy display from the always-impressive Typhoon.

Weather’s looking great for Bank Holiday Monday’s free show on the seafront, and as well as planes, there’s fun for all the family (as they say) right the way along Western Esplanade.

Not a great day for photos here on Western Esplanade, but here are a couple.

More on our Southend Airshow page.