Leyland Festival opens up search for parade participants

Leyland Festival are looking for groups to take part in their parade. Picture: Leyland Festival

The Leyland Festival parade has begun its search for groups, musicians, teams and schools to take centre stage during the event.

Groups including community groups, entertainers, dance troupes, vehicles, walking groups, businesses, charities are invited to enter.

Known for its colour, talent and enthusiasm, the procession has been a historic part of the Leyland Festival for more than 130 years.

This year organisers are promising a bumper parade, with the festival date coinciding with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations.

This year the festival takes place on Thursday 2 June – the first day in a special extra-long bank holiday weekend – and has fittingly chosen a ‘Great British Festival’ theme to honour this monarchy milestone.

As in previous years, the parade will kick-start its route at 12 noon from the McDonalds roundabout at the end of Hough Lane, travelling through Leyland town centre along Hough Lane, Towngate, St Andrew’s Way, Church Road, before joining Worden Lane into Worden Park.

Those community entries who choose to decorate and enter a float in this year’s procession will also have the chance to win a spectacular pizza party worth up to £1,000.

The ‘Best Dressed Float’ prize has been donated by The Flying Pig Pizza Company, with joint-owner Martin Stringfellow also vice-chairman of the Leyland Festival committee.

Community floats will be judged on their creativity, impact, enthusiasm, and most importantly, how they portray the Great British Festival theme.

Martin Carlin, chairman of Leyland Festival, said: “The parade is a much-loved part of Leyland Festival, with the procession dating back to May 1889. It’s a real spectacle and showpiece that sets the tone for the entire day.

“We’re encouraging local people and groups to come forward, apply, and help our community reunite and celebrate during what is a major event in the South Ribble calendar.

“This year’s Leyland Festival will be bigger and better than ever before and thanks to support from South Ribble Borough Council, we’ve waived the usual £3 in advance and £5 on the day charge to enter Worden park, to ensure local residents, their family and friends, and those who visit from further afield, can enjoy the fun and festivities free of charge.”

You can register your interest in this year’s festival parade by emailing festival@southribble.gov.uk.

Vehicle enthusiasts and owners who wish to showcase vehicles should enquire via Leyland Car Care.

A select number of vehicles will form part of the parade, with others exhibiting at this year’s brand-new Worden Motor Village, sponsored by The Fox Group.

Will you be attending? Let us know in the comments below.