All set for a day to remember!

Excitement is building in the village as finishing touches are put to Floats, Flower Power Wheelbarrows & Fancy Dress costumes.

The Committee would like to thank everyone who will be helping to make New Queen Niamh’s day unforgettable.

There are several very welcome surprises in store on the day and we would like to let everyone know that the dancing outside The Grapes will begin at 1.20pm with three performances for the first time. The Procession will get underway at 2pm as always, the crowning will be at around 3pm, with Tea in the Village Hall to round off the day.

We are delighted to be welcoming as our special guests Guy and Carol Topping representing Barton Grange. As well as judging the Float section, Guy is to present a new award to the Festival Queen. The Tom Kirby Rosebowl is given as a tribute to Tom and a mark of the esteem in which he was held at Barton Grange. It was Tom, always interested and supportive of the work of the Festival Committee, who arranged for the Barton Grange Group Float Trophy to be given to the Festival to mark the Millennium and we know our Festival Queens will treasure this new award.

Joining Guy and Carol as Judges are Tom’s daughter, Helen Roberts and her husband Alan, who will judge the Fancy Dress competition and completing the Judging team Rebecca Birkby and Jackie Cockayne will be out and about on Festival morning judging the decorated shops, houses and wheelbarrows.

Special guest Andrew Wallbank with his wife Kirsty will represent Longridge and North Preston Rotary. Andrew is to present a donation of £500 to the Festival in memory of Tom and we would like to thank the Rotarians for their most valuable support.

We are grateful to Guild Park for offering their car park no. 1 for the use of residents and visitors on the day. There is also parking on The Stags car park and along The Avenue for those staying in the village for the afternoon. The road closure order is from 1.00 to 4.45pm with diversions in operation to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

Please remember to bring along an umbrella/parasol – hopefully the latter!

And do please offer your help on the day.

We need bakers, help with the Celebration Tea (especially from 4pm), and help to set up and dismantle the staging on The Square.

Huge thanks to our Raffle Prize Donors

This year our top prize is a Lady’s Diapason all-around V Necklace and Earring Set donated by George Banks Jewellers & valued at £219

Second Prize is a Weber black original weatherproof 57cm Kettle Barbecue donated by Barton Grange Garden Centre & valued at £169.99

Third Prize is the Festival Cash Prize of £150

plus many more wonderful prizes of Vouchers and Gifts donated by local restaurants, shops & businesses

Buy your tickets now where you see the sign “Raffle Tickets Sold Here”, beat the crowds, and help us with one of the major fund raisers for the Festival.

Outlets include The Chippy and The Grapes Inn.

On Festival Day there will be two Raffle vehicles. Look out for them opposite Bushell House and in the Stags Head car park.

Andy Thiele, our Raffle co-ordinator would like to thank Longridge & North Preston Rotary Club for sponsoring the cost of printing the Raffle Tickets; the local Primary Schools for supporting us and all our helpers on Festival Day.