A heart-themed installation in Sleaford’s Market Place will invite everyone to shout about someone or something they love, and to join in with free activities in the town centre across two separate events in February.
People will be able to take selfie-style photos at a love heart seat on Market Place until Monday 24 February. The heart seat will be available for photos through the day and in the evenings, when it will light up.
As part of the installation, heart-shaped tags will be available from nearby businesses. People can collect a tag from one of these locations and write a message to someone they love, or shout about something they feel makes Sleaford and North Kesteven a great place to be, and hang it on the seat.
On Saturday 15 February a Valentine’s themed day of free activities around the heart seat will follow at Market Place, including:
- Visit participating businesses to collect your heart tag and explore what they offer, all day;
- meet Rhubarb Theatre’s Queen of Hearts, accompanied by the Mad Hatter, from 10am until 1pm – and see if you can charm her enough to receive one of 100 free roses sponsored by Interflora;
- have your portrait drawn for free by a caricature artist, between 10am and 1pm;
- enjoy three 30-minute performances from singer Chelsey Bamford, between 10am until 1pm;
- have your photograph portrait taken for free at the heart seat by a professional photographer, from 10am until 1pm.
Joining in with the Valentine’s Day theme, Handley Monument on Southgate will also be lit red from Friday evening (Valentine’s Day) and across the weekend.
The following Saturday, February 22, there’ll be a healthy heart event from 10am to 2pm on Market Place and inside St Denys’ Church Hall including:
- A pop-up caving experience at Market Place for children to explore;
- Health-based stands;
- Free cholesterol and diabetes testing in St Denys’ Church Hall; and
- another chance to take your own selfie at the heart seat, before it leaves Market Place the following Monday on February 24.
North Kesteven District Council Leader Councillor Richard Wright said: “It’s good to see the heart seat installation return to Sleaford, after it was first shown at the Riverside Precinct in 2023, and I look forward to seeing everyone enjoy it in the historic setting of the Market Place.
“This time we’re excited to be delivering two days of free community activity around it. The Valentine’s Day themed celebration on February 15 – including live performers, a rose giveaway sponsored by Interflora, a caricature artist, photo portraits and more – and the day of healthy heart and fitness on February 22 both promise to be enjoyable and provide even more reason to visit the town centre and make a day of it, which in turn supports the surrounding businesses.
“Don’t miss your chance to pick up a heart tag from the participating businesses and dedicate a message on the heart seat to someone dear to you, or celebrate a business, place or aspect that you love about Sleaford and North Kesteven.”
Image credit: North Kesteven District Council
