Rocking the retro this summer

 

For the second year in a row, Gloucester City Council is hosting its classic retro festival on August bank holiday weekend.

On Saturday 27^th August the pedestrian gate streets of Gloucester will be going back in time. The weekend will host a great variety of retro fun for all the family including vintage cars, themed streets and fancy dress.

For the weekend Westgate Street becomes themed from 1900’s to 1949 and Northgate Street turns into the 1950’s.  Eastgate Street will be bringing back the 1960’s and Southgate Street will remember the 1970’s onwards.

Local businesses, shops, pubs, restaurants, banks and charities will all be joining in the fun by creating their own retro feel and the streets will be lined with historic vehicles, cars, motorbikes, scooters and commercial vehicles.

The free festival takes place between 10am and 5pm and visitors are being encouraged to join in and dress up for the occasion too.  Awards will be handed out for best dressed person, couple, business and vehicles for their efforts.

A policeman will return to the cross for the day, no longer directing traffic he will be guiding visitors to bygone eras of time.  Kings Square will host live entertainment and dancing.

The Folk Museum in Westgate Street will be supporting the 1900-1949 theme with a typical “wash day” where visitors can see the mangles and dollies that were used before washing machines were invented.  A penny farthing can also be seen.  WWII re-enactors will troop the streets in their uniforms and military vehicles will be on display.

In Northgate Street the New Inn will be playing popular rock n roll songs to get everyone in the jiving mood.  The 1970’s and 1980’s will come alive on Southgate Street with banks, cafes, shops and restaurants playing retro music.  Star Wars re-enactors will also be mingling with the crowd as we go back to the future.

Miss Gloucester will be making a special appearance and the world record holding stuntman Dick Sheppard will also be present with his display.

Cllr Colin Organ, cabinet member for housing and planning at Gloucester City Council and creator of the festival said: “This event was such a great success last year, so I’m really looking forward to seeing each gate street dressed up again and themed from a different eras.

“The free festival is not only a different event for everyone to join in, dress up and enjoy, it also aims to increase footfall and business in the City centre and helps charities at the same time.  The combination of classic vehicles, fashion and music from different eras with shopping and food will create a real buzz in the city.  This is a great chance for local businesses to promote themselves and if anyone wishes to join in, volunteer to help or bring a vehicle, let us know.

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk