Billericay High Street was filled with music, entertainment and community spirit on Sunday as hundreds of people came together for the first Your Billericay Community Celebration & Parade.
Organised by Your Billericay, the town’s Business Improvement District (BID), the event transformed the closed High Street into a huge celebration of Billericay, bringing together local businesses, schools, charities, clubs, performers and community organisations.
Affectionately nicknamed ‘National Billericay Day’ in the build up to the event, the name was well and truly embraced, with many High Street businesses decorating their windows with
Union Jacks and touches of red, white and blue to welcome visitors.
The celebrations began in spectacular style as 16 Harley Davidsons from the Lakeside Chapter made their way down the closed High Street, announcing the arrival of the parade and receiving a fantastic reception from spectators young and old.
The walking procession then got underway, led by the Billericay Bees from Billericay Rugby Club, whose chants of “Bees, Bees, Bees!” could be heard as they made their way through the town.
More than 20 other groups followed, showcasing the huge variety of organisations that make up Billericay and its wider community.
Performing arts groups including Dance Steps Academy, Bailar Billericay, Mayflower Performing Arts and Black Ice Cheer brought plenty of energy to the procession, while local schools including Buttsbury Primary School and Quilters proudly took part.
Community organisations including Billericay Foodbank and the Community Pastors joined the celebrations, alongside local businesses including Wenzel’s and Waitrose, who handed out free goodies along the route. Adding to the sense of local pride was Sam Bennett, a Billericay athlete who won silver in the 110m hurdles at this summer’s Commonwealth Games, who also joined the community in walking in the parade.
And among the participants receiving some of the biggest smiles from the crowds were the Guide Dogs, who were, as expected, perfectly behaved throughout!
Once the parade had finished, the celebrations were far from over.
The High Street remained packed with visitors enjoying free entertainment and activities throughout the afternoon. There was free face painting at Hamilton Carpets, alongside Punch & Judy shows, balloon modelling, bubbles, roaming performers and plenty more for families to discover.
Music could be heard throughout the town, with the main stage hosting local singers Penelope Wood and Felicity Ison, alongside bands The Ruined Souls and Blue Mantis. Local groups who had taken part in the parade also took to the stage, wowing the crowds with performances of their own.
Businesses across the High Street played a huge part in creating the atmosphere.
The Chequers brought the pub outside, transforming its outdoor area with rugs and Chesterfield sofas, while The Railway and The Crown added to the celebrations with live music.
Elsewhere, ToothClub offered mini K pop makeovers for children, and Flamingo Café invited youngsters to get creative with free cake decorating workshops with many other businesses offering activities.
The result was a High Street filled with activity throughout the day and a celebration that extended far beyond the parade itself.
Nikki Machin, Your Billericay BID Manager, said: “What an incredible day. Seeing the High Street so busy and watching businesses, community groups, schools, performers and families all come together was something really special.
“There were so many moments throughout the day that made us incredibly proud. From the reception the Harley Davidsons received as they came down the High Street, to hearing the Billericay Bees leading the walking parade and then seeing group after group following behind them, the atmosphere was fantastic.
“What made me particularly proud was that everyone embraced what the day was about. It was a celebration of Billericay, but everyone was welcome, and we had groups and visitors joining us from both the town and surrounding areas.
“We had affectionately started calling it ‘National Billericay Day’ in the lead up and it was brilliant to see the town run with it. Businesses decorated their windows, people came out to support the parade and there was such a lovely sense of pride in Billericay throughout the day.
“We have already received some wonderful feedback, with so many people telling us how much they enjoyed the event and asking us to do it all again next year.
“I think the Your Billericay team might need a moment to recover first! But once we have all taken a breath, there will certainly be conversations about what National Billericay Day could look like in the future.”
Also attending the day and helping to marshal alongside The Billericay Lions, Billericay Round Table and 41 Club, Billericay Town Rotary, Billericay Town Council and Youth Town Council was local MP Richard Holden “Billericay has such a strong community presence and we saw that at yesterday’s parade, the beginning of what I hope even more events and celebrations of Billericay throughout every year!
“I’m so grateful to the Your Billericay BID team and Key Lime PR & Marketing for their amazing work. And, of course, to everyone that participated in the parade, came to watch it, the businesses for embracing the day, and everyone who go involved in making this an amazing day for Billericay.”
Your Billericay represents businesses across Billericay High Street and the surrounding area, working to support and promote the town, encourage people to visit and spend locally, and deliver events and initiatives that benefit local businesses.
And while the Community Celebration & Parade may be over, there is still plenty more to come from Your Billericay.
This week will see the launch of the Your Billericay Community Awards, following the success of the awards when they were held for the first time last year. The awards will once again provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate some of the people and organisations making a difference within the community.
Then, on Saturday 26th September, Your Billericay’s third Artisan Food & Drink Market will bring another day of great food, drink and local activity to the town.
For now, however, Your Billericay is celebrating the success of a day that saw the High Street at its very best, busy, vibrant and brought together by its businesses and community.
And perhaps Billericay really does have its very own National Day after all.
