To celebrate one of the UK’s biggest sporting events finishing in Felixstowe this October, East Suffolk Council is hosting FelixFest in partnership with Felixstowe Town Council – an ultimate weekend of family fun for local people and visitors alike.
The celebrations will be taking place on 8 – 10 October 2021 on the Beachside Events Space and along Sea Road, kicking off on the Friday night with an outdoor cinema. The movie is yet to be decided, and all suggestions are welcome by email on leisure@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
Cllr Letitia Smith, East Suffolk Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Leisure and Tourism, said: “We’re really excited about the Women’s Tour returning to East Suffolk this October after what has been a difficult year for many. To celebrate this sporting spectacular, we’ve got a big weekend coming up for everyone! Sponsored by Felixstowe Town Council, FelixFest will be a fun-filled weekend full of activities, with something for the whole family as well as Felixstowe’s very first open water Triathlon.”
Cllr Mark Jepson, Mayor of Felixstowe, said: “Felixstowe Town Council is delighted to be supporting the Women’s Tour on its return to Suffolk this year and is proud to be hosting the finale of this fantastic race. With so many events having been cancelled or postponed over the past year, we are very much looking forward to welcoming everybody for a festival of activities across the weekend.”
The Saturday will see some of the world’s best cyclists racing to be crowned the 2021 Women’s Tour champion in the Final Stage on Sea Road. East Suffolk has hosted different stages of the Tour since it began in 2014, but this will be the first time the district has hosted the Final Stage. Felixstowe last hosted the race in 2014, when Stage Three began in the town.
Mick Bennett, Race Director at Women’s Tour, said: “The finish of the Women’s Tour in Felixstowe has been much anticipated and so we are eagerly looking forward to October and the race. The Women’s Tour is about much more than just cycling and so it is great that FelixFest will be bringing the whole community our for the Women’s Tour with a whole range of activities. We very much look forward to being a part of it.”
Prior to this, activities will be taking place by the finishing line, including a 10km bike ride, children’s races, and lots of demonstration activities. There will also be a Tour Village with stalls providing information, activities and representations from some of the sponsors of the Women’s Tour, as well as a Pump Track for people to have a go on.
As a first for Felixstowe, an open water Triathlon will be taking place on the Sunday with a standard (1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run), sprint (750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run) and supersprint (300m swim, 20km bike and 3km run) on offer. The sprint and supersprint is open to all teams and businesses.
There will also be entertainment and information talks taking place on the podium over the weekend.
To help the weekend run smoothly, the Council is also looking for volunteers to get involved. For more information, please email volunteer@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
For more information about the Women’s Tour, go to www.womenstour.co.uk
For more information about the Felixstowe Triathlon and to sign up, go to www.felixstowetriathlon.uk