Preston People’s Festival to celebrate life of Mary Slater

Preston People's Festival making their voices heard on the Flag Market Pic: Kostek Poland — Preston People’s Festival making their voices heard on the Flag Market Pic: Kostek Poland

Protest songs, a people’s choir and a march to remember a Preston woman’s anti-fascism campaign are all planned for this weekend’s Preston People’s Festival.

Returning to Preston city centre the two-day festival is themed around the life of Mary Slater.

Born in Preston in 1903 she served as a nurse with the International Brigade to combat Franco’s fascism in Spain.

Saturday’s (16 June) entertainment begins with dedications to Mary Elizabeth Slater in the Preston Peace Garden in Friargate from 12noon.

A plaque will be dedicated to her for her efforts in the Spanish Civil War.

Led by the Lostock Hall Brass Band a march will make its way to the Flag Market for an afternoon of beer, street performance and entertainment.

Here’s everyone who is performing on the Flag Market, which is part of the Summer Saturdays events sponsored by us at Blog Preston.

1.30pm – Protest songs from the Rare Old Times group

2.15pm – Worldwise samba drummers and dancers take over the city’s main square.

3pm – Around 50 members of the Preston People’s Choir perform

3.30pm – Professor Bob Gilbert performs, with his tales of working class history

4.50pm – Bard Company perform, the North’s answer to the Young Ones with ‘in yer face’ poetry

5.50pm – Mark Dacey performs, the North West singer songwriter has a selection of his own tunes about Love, Money and politicians

6.15pm – Susie Jones band perform

7pm – Multi-award winning folk rockers from Wigan, Merry Hell perform

Throughout the Saturday there will be pop up street performances from Preston-based theatre company Tin Can People.

Read more: Want to know what’s on in Preston? Our dedicated section keeps you updated

All events on the Saturday are free.

Before Saturday’s events, during Friday (15 June) there’s a number of film screenings at the University of Central Lancashire’s cinema in Foster building.

It will showcase a selection of short films about the roles of trade unions, work and women from the past to the present day. Free to attend but you need to register via Eventbrite. The event runs from 7pm to 9pm.