Alive and kicking

This year’s Leyland Festival will see the return of the surf simulator Freya Fire Sprite – who will perform her spectacular fire dance – and R Leisure will bring their new 30ft inflatable pirate assault course.

There’ll also be Laser Tag and archery as well as football demonstrations and a balloon race.

Down at the Worden Arts Centre, this year’s worldwide theme, chosen to coincide with the World Cup, will be brought to life with food from around the globe.

The culinary offerings will range from Greek to Mexican, French, Spanish, Italian, Asian, and even Hawaiian.

And there’ll even be a ‘pub in the park’ run by The Railway.

The Arts Centre will be busy with live music and entertainment throughout the afternoon, all rounded off by local band The Farthingales, who made it to the final of the Last Band Standing competition at Manchester Academy.

Last year saw more than 10,000 people turn out for the annual event, which is sponsored by Leyland Trucks, New Progress Housing and Martin Ainscough Holdings Ltd and organised by the Leyland Festival Committee with South Ribble Borough Council.

A staggering £5,500 was raised for charities chosen by the Rotary Club of Leyland in 2013.

This year the Rosemere Cancer Foundation and Cancer UK will benefit from money raised on the day.

A spokesman for the Leyland Festival Committee said: “The festival may only be held on one day, but it takes more than a year to plan.

“This year it will be bigger than ever with 30 vehicle and walking floats as well as 70 plus vintage and unique vehicles in the parade and more than 100 stalls on the park.

“The theme may vary each year, but for the committee there is one focus – to make the day a fun, family day out.”

Entry to the park costs £3, with children under the age of 16 going free.

For all the latest information and updates, visit: www.leylandfestival.co.uk or www.facebook.com/LeylandFestival

PROGRAMME:

11am-noon

Hough Lane: Mickey Mouse and his friends will be handing out balloons to young children waiting for the parade

Leyland Market/ Market Ale House: Leyland Morris Men

The Gables Pub: Stone the Crows Morris Men

Outside Peppermint Cottage/ Atkinson’s Jewellers, Hough Lane: The Blowjangles

Park area: Craft, trade and food stalls open

Park area: Funfair starts

Worden Arts Centre: Pub on the Park opens

Worden Arts Centre: Food court opens and activities begin

Noon

Town centre: Festival parade begins from King Street (route takes in Hough Lane, Towngate, Leyland Cross and Worden Lane)

12.30pm

Paws in the Park Arena: Dog Show opens

1.20pm

Dance Arena: Mayor of South Ribble Councillor Graham Walton opens the festival followed by presentation of the 2014 Leyland Festival Queen

1.30pm

Dance Arena: Festival Spirit performance by Double R Arts

Worden Arts Centre: Charnock Richard Youth Brass Band

1.45pm

Dance Arena: Sylvia Goff – Brazilian theme

Worden Arts Centre: Food demonstrations and taster session by Philippa James

Rock FM bus/APC stand: Can you beat Luke Marsden in the ring?

2pm:

Dance Arena: Truth Dance Company

Worden Arts Centre: Stone the Crows Morris Dancers

2.15pm

Dance Arena: Freya Fire Sprite – Fire dance

Worden Arts Centre: Wellfield Music Group

2.30pm

Dance Arena: Festival Spirit performance by Double R Arts

Worden Arts Centre: Food demonstrations and taster session by Philippa James

2.45pm

Dance Arena: Truth Dance Company

Rock FM Bus: Can you beat Luke Marsden in the ring?

2pm-3pm

SR Children’s Centre Pitch: Taz the Clown Show

3.15pm

Dance Arena: Sylvia Goff – Brazilian theme

Worden Arts Centre: Stone the Crows Morris Dancers

3.30pm

Dance Arena: Diane Oakden

3.45pm

Worden Arts Centre: Food demonstrations and taster session by Philippa James

Worden Arts Centre: Rock FM’s Luke Marsden to draw Cash for Kids raffle

3.50pm

Worden Arts Centre: Luke Marsden and Festival Queen to release balloons for the big race

4pm

Worden Arts Centre: Doug Perkins and the Spectators

4.40pm

Worden Arts Centre: Amy Jo Clough

5.20pm

Worden Arts Centre: Saraban

6pm

Worden Arts Centre: The Farthingales

*All times and events are approximate and subject to change on the day