Lytham gets set for the Forties Weekend!
Lytham is gearing up for its popular annual 1940s Wartime Weekend which attracts over 40,000 to the town.
Taking place on August 19th and 20th on Lytham Green, the town will welcome military charities, associations, re-enactment groups, static Spitfires, a day long entertainment programme and much more. This free event has become firmly established on the 1940s circuit and is a popular event very much welcomed by local traders in the town. Visitors are encouraged to visit Lytham Town Centre where the businesses make the effort to dress their establishments accordingly and staff get into the wartime spirit too.
This year will see evening entertainment in the main marquee on the Friday evening as well as hosting an RNLI 1940s fundraiser, the Cockle Ball, on the Saturday night. These events do require paid tickets, however at an exceptionally reasonable cost. Additionally the Lowther Pavilion are hosting themed forties shows over the weekend as well as a number of evening shows taking place around Lytham and St Anne’s.
Event sponsorship has come in from Freeport, Fleetwood, who will have a themed marquee at the event. Centre Manager Amanda Daniels said: “We are delighted to be associated with such a respected and popular event and it is a great opportunity for us to work in partnership with Fylde Borough Council to further promote the Freeport brand to a wider audience across the Fylde Coast. Working in partnership is key for us and getting involved in this popular event gives us the opportunity to showcase some of our brands including The Body Shop Outlet, Marks & Spencer, Double Two and Craft Central, and we will of course be fully theming our presence to the event.”
Tim Dixon, Tourism and Cultural Services Manager, who also acts as the 1940s Event Manager, of Fylde Council said, “This year’s event further builds on previous years spectacular events and we have planned a really strong line up of entertainment, re-enactment groups, military hardware, charities over the weekend, and with the addition of some evening entertainment, new sponsorship, some new traders such as Spitfire Gin and the Lytham Fizz Prosecco bar, I know that visitors will be in for a treat. We are very much encouraging visitors to explore the town centre and will be holding a best dressed shop and best dressed eatery competition, to be judged by the Mayor and Winston Churchill. There will be the popular vehicle ride out each day at 1:30pm and the battle re-enactment by the windmill at 3pm. The event takes place from 10am to 5pm each day and we look forward to seeing visitors from far and wide there.”
Fylde Council’s Tourism and Leisure Committee Chair, Councillor Cheryl Little said “I know how much the businesses appreciate this event and it’s always absolutely fantastic to see Lytham get dressed up for the weekend. The comments I get about the event are really positive and it is very much looked forward to by the local traders. I know how much preparation has gone into the event and know visitors who come from all over the country are in for a real treat.”