Leyland Festival WILL return in June 2022 to mark Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Leyland Festival will be returning in 2022, promising a four-day bonanza of fun to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Having been forced to cancel the event in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, organisers have announced the festival – which is one of the biggest events in the South Ribble calendar – will go ahead next year and are encouraging the local community and visitors from afar to mark the date in their diaries now.

The weekend of fun will help put a smile back on people's faces and boost the local economy as we recover from the pandemic.

Leader of South Ribble Borough Council, Councillor Paul Foster, said: "We've had such a difficult time over the last year and it is important we give people something to look forward to that will provide a much-needed boost for the local economy.

"We're really grateful to the Leyland Festival committee for working with us on moving the event from its usual spot to the new Bank Holiday and this will be one of the biggest weekend of events we have hosted in South Ribble.

"To do that we've had to set a new budget of just over £200,000 but we expect the majority of that will be recouped by ticket sales and income from the events.

"What we are planning will hopefully bring in people from across the North West and we are looking forward to revealing more details on the artists as soon as we can."

The Queen's Jubilee weekend will see everyone get an extra Bank Holiday, making a four-day weekend at the start of June.

The Leyland Festival will take place on Thursday 2 June with the Music in the Park event taking place on the Friday - both in Worden Park.

There will then be chance for people to enjoy the rest of the weekend with street parties and the council is looking to close Hough Lane, in Leyland town centre, to create a place for visitors to relax and enjoy the hospitality.

Chairman of the Leyland town team, Martin Carlin, said: "This is going to be something special and we are going to be pulling people in from far and wide.

"This will be a real community event and what the last year and a bit has shown us is how important that community spirit is.

"We'll be releasing more details in the coming weeks but make sure you mark the dates in your diary and we're looking forward to working with the council on making this a weekend to remember."

On Thursday June 2 2022, Leyland Festival will begin with the energy and colour of the parade, a tradition that has been part of the event for more than 130 years and is renowned for its costume design, talent and enthusiasm.

Worden Park’s treasured green space will then feature live music performances, a myriad of children’s entertainment, gift stalls, an exceptional artisan food and drinks market, including Pimms and prosecco vendors, as well as the opportunity to grab afternoon tea.

More announcements will follow soon, including the reveal of the festival’s 2022 theme, which will be represented in the outfits and decorations of those taking part in the parade, donning stands and running events across the town.

On Friday June 3, there will be a Music in the Park event, featuring a variety of musicians and singers, followed by more jubilee celebrations across the weekend.

The festival will also see the return of Cars in the Park. Forming a major spectacle in the parade, vehicle enthusiasts will then have the opportunity to admire the latest supercars by Lamborghini and Ferrari, and hot hatches, modifications and beautiful vintage examples on Worden Park.

The success of the event, organisers say, will be crucial to ensuring the local economy recovers from the effects of the pandemic and will be a fitting tribute to the town, its community and Her Majesty The Queen.

Mr Carlin, added: “After sadly having to postpone Leyland Festival in 2020 and 2021, we were determined to return with a bang and a spectacular line-up of events that will deliver exactly that.

"Though we are early in the planning stages, what we have arranged promises to deliver some of our biggest celebrations to date. 

“What will be key is ensuring visitors enjoy the entertainment at the festival but also fully immerse themselves into everything Leyland has to offer – all its local hospitality and retail businesses – so that our community can bounce back further.

“Leyland Festival is a key part of the calendar not just for those living and working nearby, but for people from much further afield and we cannot wait to bring it back, in its full glory, to create happy memories for thousands of festival goers.”

For more information, visit www.leylandfestival.co.uk