Luton Party and Proms: volunteers get free tickets

Stockwood Park will host Luton Rising presents Party in the Park and Proms in the Park on 12 and 13 September 2026, bringing two days of concerts to Luton’s 150th-anniversary celebrations. The events are intended for the general public and are expected to draw thousands of visitors.

Residents can experience the weekend from inside the operation by becoming Luton Rising Festival Makers. Luton Council says volunteers need no previous experience, will receive training and briefings, and will be given free tickets to the events in return for their support. Anyone interested can register through the Step Forward Luton website.

Two concerts will mark Luton’s 150th anniversary

Party in the Park and Proms in the Park form part of Luton 150, the programme marking 150 years of the borough. Both concerts will take place at Stockwood Park over the September weekend.

The council has not published performance times or programme details in the supplied notice, but the scale of the celebration is clear: organisers are preparing to welcome thousands of people across two days. The Festival Makers will help visitors navigate the venue, find information and take part in activities while supporting the wider event team.

The weekend gives local residents two ways to participate. They can attend as members of the public or apply for a volunteer role that places them directly within the delivery of the celebration.

Festival Makers will welcome and guide visitors

Available volunteer positions include event stewards and marshals, welcome and information volunteers, wayfinding and activity-support roles, accessibility-support roles, and crew positions assisting with set-up and take-down.

Training will cover customer service, event safety and the responsibilities attached to each role. Sessions are scheduled for August and early September, with support continuing throughout the volunteering experience.

The programme follows the volunteer operation created for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Luton in 2024. More than 280 Festival Makers helped welcome music fans during that event. According to the council, feedback showed that volunteers valued presenting Luton positively, while visitors noticed the welcome they received.

Councillor Basit Mahmood, Luton Council’s portfolio holder for inclusive growth and town centre regeneration, said the new team would help create a welcoming atmosphere during the anniversary celebration. He also highlighted the chance for volunteers to meet people, build confidence and gain skills.

Councillor Javeria Hussain, vice-chair of Luton Rising, said the 2024 volunteers had acted as ambassadors for the town and played a central role in the visitor experience.

Registration and details still to be confirmed

Residents do not need previous event experience to apply, and people who volunteered at earlier events are also being encouraged to return. Registration of interest is handled through the Step Forward Luton website rather than through an on-site application process.

The published notice does not provide start times, a precise venue address within Stockwood Park, general-public ticket prices or booking arrangements, travel guidance, or attendee accessibility information. Prospective visitors should therefore avoid assuming that the volunteers’ free-ticket offer applies to general admission.

Those seeking a Festival Maker position can register their interest ahead of the training sessions taking place during August and early September.

Source: Luton Council