The countdown is on as Garstang gears up for the county's first ever ice cream festival

Lancashire is licking its lips ahead of Garstang's first ever ice cream festival '“ with less than three weeks now until the big day is set to bring thousands of people in to the market town.
The day kicks off on Sunday July 15.The day kicks off on Sunday July 15.
The day kicks off on Sunday July 15.

The festival, which kicks off on Sunday, July 15, will be a first of its kind experience for the red rose county but organisers, the Independent Garstang Traders, are confident ahead of the big day.

Business, events and social media coordinator for the IGT, Kate Pollard, said: “We’ve now over 10,000 people following the event with people travelling from all over the country and world to attend.

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“It is shaping up to be a huge event for Garstang and of course it is something completely different!”

The day kicks off on Sunday July 15.The day kicks off on Sunday July 15.
The day kicks off on Sunday July 15.

The full festival map and programme was published yesterday which shows the full scale of the event and outlines all the entertainment on offer, including a ukelele band stage, ‘find the flavour’ ice cream hunts and 120 foot long kite displays.

It also details the different zones of the festival and has a full announcement of all event sponsors, with the programme set to be distributed around town from next week.

Chairman of the IGT, Luke Pollard, said: “It’s going very well. It’s taking place throughout Garstang on Moss Lane, High Street, Church Street.

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“We will of course have lots of ice cream vendors from across the area for people to visit.”

Lots of flavours will be available to choose from.Lots of flavours will be available to choose from.
Lots of flavours will be available to choose from.

Fans of good pint of ale or two will be happy to hear that Lancaster-based Avid Brewing Co. have got involved in the event, producing an exclusive Garstang Ice Cream Festival Ale for the festival – the flavours of which remain under wraps for now.

The official Garstang Ice Cream flavour was recently voted for by the public, with the Garstang Rocks flavour – a strawberry and cream concoction scattered with Blackpool Rock – declared the official flavour after winning the public vote by just four votes.

The ice cream is being made by gelato connoisseurs Wallings Farm near Cockerham.

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“It’s a unique event and I think that’s why it’s proven to be so popular,” Luke explained.

A map of the festival.A map of the festival.
A map of the festival.

“It’s not just about ice cream but also about being a great day out for the family as well.”

Luke is also confident that the town can cope with the possible high footfall in the town, with extra car parking spots at the likes of Garstang Medical Practice already secured.

Luke added: “A lot of hotels and camp sites are filling up, pubs and restaurants should also do really well. It should get people who might never have been to Garstang before to come and think about coming again. That’s the long-term aim.”