Festival Queen Selection

Congratulations to our New Festival Queen

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Congratulations to Miss Elin Harry, Year 6 pupil from Goosnargh who has become our Festival Queen for2020!

Out of a total of five candidates her name was drawn at our Selection Concert which was held on Sunday, 2nd February. She lives in the Village and attends Goosnargh (Oliverson’s) CE Primary School.

The afternoon was a great success, the three local primary schools putting on a magnificent show for a capacity audience which included the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Iqbal and his Mayoress; and Longridge and North Preston Rotary President Mr. Mick Ward and his wife, Janet.

Elin is very much looking forward to her year as Festival Queen.

Festival Queen Selection

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This year’s Festival Queen Selection Concert is being held this Sunday (2nd February) in Goosnargh Village Hall starting at 2pm.

Our three local primary schools will be performing in front of villagers, the Mayor of Preston and President of the Rotary Club. Please come along and join us in what is always an excellent and entertaining afternoon.

Registering for the draw to be Festival Queen (or King) 2020/2021 is between 1pm and 2pm.

Looking forward to seeing you there on Sunday!

2019 Update

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Selection Day 2019 with a concert taking place in Goosnargh Village Hall in the afternoon, is Sunday February 3rd 2019.

Make a note of the date now and join us as we celebrate the launch of our new Festival year. The theme for the festival will be “Flights of Fancy” – 2019 is 100 years since the first powered flights crossed the Atlantic.

A reminder also that our Autumn Jumble Sale 2018 is Saturday 13th October and Alex Johnson’s Hallowe’en Extravaganza 2018 is Friday 26th October.

Showtime Success!

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Congratulations to Romilly Taylor, Festival Queen elect 2018.

Romilly’s name was selected by Festival Queen 2017 Niamh Quigg during a stunning “Showtime” concert which played to a packed Village Hall last Sunday afternoon.

A delighted audience enjoyed a fabulous afternoon’s entertainment and Goosnargh & Whittingham’s 2018 White Doves Festival was launched in grand style.

Performers from 4yrs to young adults displayed a huge range of skills from the youngest St Francis’ Primary’s Glee Club to Musical Theatre, Classical and Aerial ballet of outstanding quality by aspiring professionals.

We were very pleased to welcome Councillor Trevor Hart, Deputy Mayor of the City of Preston, to witness the selection of our new Festival Queen and enjoy our legendary Goosnargh hospitality.

Event Manager Alex Johnson was warmly praised by all present for an outstanding “Showtime” – our thanks also go to everyone who took part both back and front of house.

Photos of the event can be found here!

Festival Queen Selection 2018

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Bring a parent or guardian to “Showtime” Goosnargh Village Hall – Sunday 4th February.

Register your name between 12noon and 1pm, when the entertainment will begin. Draw by Queen Niamh at 2pm. Secondary School pupils living in the Parish of Goosnargh or the Parish of Whittingham are eligible.

That’s a huge area including Whitechapel and Bleasdale. Have a look here for more information.

Festival AGM

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The Festival AGM will take place at the Grapes Inn 7.30pm Tuesday 21st November.

This is a public meeting. Please come along and hear about the work of the Festival Committee.

Festival Queen Selection

We will be selecting our Festival Queen 2018 at a concert to be attended by the Deputy Mayor of the City of Preston. The event will begin at 1pm on Sunday 4th February and all of our local Primary Schools will be taking part.

Selection Spectacular

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A huge 103round of applause for Alex Johnson rounded off a glittering afternoon’s entertainment on a village hall stage transformed by creative use of voile & lighting and featuring talented young performers in an impressive variety of roles.

We were delighted to welcome the Mayor & Mayoress of the City of Preston, Councillor John Collins & Mrs Mary Dade, to witness the selection of Festival Queen Elect Miss Niamh Quigg and enjoy our legendary Goosnargh hospitality. Tom Ibison, Festival Honorary President reported that they had thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

Alex himself paid tribute to his fellow Musical Theatre Students at Preston’s College, Head Anne Markland and Tutor Michael Cosgrove, and to the Staff & Pupils of Goosnargh Oliverson’s and St Francis’ Catholic Primary Schools for endless hours of rehearsals which well and truly paid off on the day.

The College performers sang, danced and acted with impressive conviction and a terrific sense of performance and our Primary Schools offered a fantastic array of instrumental music & song with over 50 youngsters taking part – all a real credit to their teachers.

A very special feature of this year’s event, certainly a first for Goosnargh, was a skilful and beautifully choreographed Aerial Hoop routine created for us by Hannah & Grace Chadwick.

This year’s Festival, set to take place on Saturday, June 3rd, is dedicated to the late Tom Kirby who did so much to support the Festival both through his role at Barton Grange and through his membership of Longridge & North Preston Rotary. We were very pleased to welcome Tom’s daughter Helen Roberts and Guy Topping from Barton Grange as we launched the 2017 Festival Year. Guy is to present a new award, The Tom Kirby Rosebowl, to the Festival Queen on Festival Day.

Helen and Alan Roberts will judge the Fancy Dress section230 of the Festival and Guy and Carol Topping the Decorated Floats before Guy also presents a brand new Barton Grange Float Trophy.

Thank you to all who supported Alex so well. We were exceptionally well supplied with delicious cakes & scones, raffle prizes, helpers and, most importantly, a very appreciative audience to encourage our young stars of the future.

More photos here.