This is a wonderful day to visit Garstang especially if you have young children. A good attendance is guaranteed from Garstang and the surrounding villages and a great time is guaranteed for all.
This does not all happen on its own though and a great deal of work is put in by the Festival Committee throughout the year and parents and helpers decorating floats an fancy dress for the parade day, our thanks to all of them for their dedication and hard work.
Garstang Childrens Festival Day 2019
For the organisers of the event the day starts at 6.00am. with tasks such as the decorating of the market cross and the preparation of sandwiches for the children in visiting bands.
The crowning of the 2019 Festival Queen, Emily Guy, will take place at the Market Cross at 11.00am. Emily will be crowned by the Retiring Queen.
Following the crowning of the Festival Queen the morning procession will proceed through the streets led by the Morris Dancers, the festival and retiring queens, plus many other queens from surrounding villages and churches.
One of the highlights of the day must be the brightly decorated children’s tableaux. Parents have been very busy these past few weeks putting the floats together, and I’m sure that the usual large crowds will appear to marvel at the quality of the tableaux and to show their appreciation.
There will be bands in attendance on the day: Pilling brass band, Brindle brass band, Red Rose brass band, The Hyndeburn Comets Majorette Troupe, Bolton Caledonian Pipe Band, Lancaster City Brass Band and St Peters Brigade Band from Preston.
Also taking part in the procession will be The Hyndeburn Comets Majorette Troupe and the Garstang School of Gymnastics.
On completion of the morning procession, attention will switch to the Moss Lane playing fields where activities will start at 1.10 pm with a display’s from the Garstang School of Gymnasium. and the Hyndeburn Comets Majorette Troupe.
Attention will then switch to the ever popular children’s sports which will commence at approximately 2.00 pm, these will be followed by the football semi finals.
Throughout the afternoon there are many attractions for the younger children including the presence of a professional face painter, children’s rides, bouncy castles, bouncy slide and childrens roundabouts.
All activities are free of charge so bring the little ones down for a great family day out.
Refreshments are available throughout the afternoon.
The evening procession starts at 6 p.m. at Moss Lane playing fields. This will include the fancy dress parade in which there are many prizes to be won. The fancy dress parade is open to anyone. Entries are accepted from 5.15pm on Moss Lane playing fields, with judging taking place between 5.30pm and 6.00pm. and along the procession route.
So why not try your luck and have great fun at the same time?
The day concludes with the final of the football competition at 7.30pm.
Timetable of Events
Monday 27th May 2019
- 06.00 a.m. Decorating the Market Cross.
- 10.00 a.m. Procession starts to assemble.
- 11.00 a.m. Crowning of the Festival Queen.
- 11.05 a.m. Procession moves off, led by Morris Dancers.
Monday 27th May @ Moss Lane Playing Fields
- 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Free for younger children Martin Scott Price – Punch & Judy Shows, Cases Faces – Childrens Face Painting, Bouncy Castle, Bouncy Slide, Children’s Roundabouts.
- 1.10 p.m. Garstang School Of Gymnastics Display.
- 1.40 p.m. Hyndburn Comets Display
- 2.00 p.m. Children’s Sports.
- 3.00 p.m. Football (7 a side) semi finals.
- 5.15 p.m. Fancy Dress Entrants gather on playing field.
- 5.30 p.m. Fancy Dress judging.
- 5.45 p.m. Presentation of Tableaux prizes.
- 6.00 p.m. Evening Procession moves off, led by Morris Dancers.
- 7.00 p.m. Presentation of Fancy Dress Prizes.
- 7.30 p.m. Football (7 a side) Final.
Refreshments available all afternoon.