An incredible 900,000 people have flocked to Preston for the city’s spectacular Guild celebrations.
A crowd of 100,000 people packed the streets for the torchlight procession on Saturday night alone.
Organisers have estimated an extra £25m was pumped into the city’s economy as people packed into shops, bars and restaurants.
A huge fireworks and pyrotechnics display lit up the skies of the city last night to bring a spectacular end to the programme.
Council leader Peter Rankin said he had already started talking with leading figures about organising further events for the city in the coming years.
He said: “Now we have a challenge to bottle the enthusiasm and support people have for the Guild and use it to take us forward.”
Festival director Stella Hall said she was “so proud” of the hundreds of people, including 200 ‘Guilder’ volunteers, who had made the event possible.
She said there was “a desire” to keep on events including the Vintage festival, food festivals and a young people’s festival.
Design guru Wayne Hemingway, who hosted the sell-out Vintage event last weekend, has told organisers he is interested in returning to support future events in Preston.
Guild mayor Carl Crompton officially brought an end to the celebrations with the adjournment of the Guild Court on Saturday morning.
He said: “After years of planning, many months of hard work, sleepless nights and lots of blood, sweat and tears, not least from our army of volunteers have helped make this one of the best Guilds ever.
“Nothing will prevent it being reopened in 2032.”
Organisers said the Guild also left its mark on social media with more than 23,000 people getting in touch through networks including Facebook and Twitter since mid-June.
In the past 10 days, more than 15,000 people have been in touch.
Comments