Workington Goes Vintage
This September, Workington will swing with retro tunes, fifties frocks and a legion of local cuisine.
Bringing the vintage phenomenon to west Cumbria, the town will take a step back in time when it hosts Cumbria’s largest retro festival on Saturday 9 September. Vintage in the Town will see an eclectic mix of retro fashion, local food traders and enthusiastic entertainment, bring the Washington Square Development to life.
The festival, which is organised by the Paint the Town Red group, will see almost 100 independent traders between the vintage marquee and street vendor, as well as classic car displays and other street entertainment.
Live retro music will get toes tapping throughout the day, from jazz, swing and rockabilly to an ABBA tribute act. Stars of the 1960s, The Fortunes head the line up, but local talent such as Cindy Hoten and Judy and the Hotrods are also set to get feet stomping.
Festival organiser, Helen Fowler said: “I’ve been to some fantastic vintage festivals previously, so it seemed like a good way to go. I have to say, at the time I didn’t realise how many vintage and retro traders we have in the area. In the vintage marquee we have got 28 traders and around 90 per cent of them are within a 30 mile radius of Workington.”
She added: “It’s a lovely, mix in the marquee, with some really unique traders. They are all local people who want to come and support us.”
In the Lakes College Marquee, students will be transforming festival goers into 1950s pinups and serving afternoon tea. Meanwhile art and photography students from the college have been working on a unique art trail, featuring 14 pieces of artwork that will be displayed permanently around the town. The exhibits range from a map of the town centre, to fashion garments inspired by local industry.
Helen said: “The festival really showcases the town and what we have in Workington, as well as being a big part of the community. We’ve got to acknowledge the Washington Square Development who have allowed us to hold the festival there.”
The event will boast the rare opportunity to take a trip down memory lane with Heritage Bus Tours running trips to the town’s historic port throughout the day. Classic Workington-built buses will ferry nostalgia-seekers to the Port’s Prince of Wales Dock, an area usually off limits to the public.
The first event of its kind in Workington, Vintage in the Town will have a family focus and be very much in keeping with the Paint the Town Red group’s original concept; to bring people of all ages and socioeconomic groups into the town for an enjoyable day.
Helen added: “All of this is so unique for the area, from the vintage marquee to the heritage buses to the art trail and certainly the retro stage as well. We’ve got something for everybody, so get your dancing shoes on and come down.”
For more information visit www.vintageworkington.co.uk
