Back to the Vintage future

Morecambe is gearing up for a vintage treat as the clock ticks down to a weekend of nostalgia.

The full lineup for the annual Vintage-by-the-Sea event has been revealed and is expected to pull 10s of thousands to the town on September 5 and 6.

This year festival organisers are hoping to top the 40,000 numbers who graced last year’s event.

Co-organiser Wayne Hemingway, right, said: “The overwhelming response last year was very very positive, and positive about the experience being in Morecambe.

“That will have an impact on this year as long as we don’t get a weekend of rain.

“These people will come back. Others will come as well and these people will continue to find reasons to go to Morecambe.

“The more people go to a place the more you get stickability.”

Mr Hemingway, a world-renowned designer and TV personality who was born in Morecambe, has again put the programme of events together with help from his family, and resort-based events firm Deco Publique.

Events will centre around three venues – the Midland, the Winter Gardens and the Platform.

The Saturday programme includes a RAF flyover by a Lancaster Bomber, Hurricane and Spitfire, a vintage bike ride by the sea, a static display of Spitfire planes, donkey rides, street theatre, a vintage fairground, live music stage, screenings of Alice In Wonderland and the film Northern Soul in the Winter Gardens, a classic car show, vintage marketplace, the charity shop DJ outside the back of the Midland, a design, craft and makers market, a rock ‘n’ roll afternoon at the Platform and a night of 80s and 90s dance music at the same venue.

Sunday’s events include the Bradford to MorecambeCar Rally, a vintage dog show, an all-day soul music event in the Platform, and many of the same attractions from Saturday.

Acts performing on the Melodrome stage over the weekend include Phil Turner and the Crow Mandala, Twentyfourseven and Sue Parish.

There will also be a series of vintage-themed events as part of the monthly ‘First Friday’ arts collective on Friday, September 4.

This includes a ‘jumble trail’ near The Battery, an art exhibition in the Stone Jetty Cafe, and vintage cinema at the Winter Gardens with an airing of the classic ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’.

Tickets are still available for the music events at the Platform although the Saturday evening ‘Torch Club’ ball at the Midland is sold out.

For more information visit www.vintagefestival.co.uk