PRESTON GUILD, THE UK’S MOST EXCITING, DIVERSE AND OLDEST FESTIVAL IS FINALLY HERE
Preston Guild - the most unique celebrations in the country – is finally here and thousands of spectators and performers from across the world are getting ready for this once-in-a-generation extravaganza.
The big top is in place, the Spiegel tent is dressed, the artists are booked and the events are ready and waiting: let the party commence!
With 20 years between the Guilds there is good reason to mark the occasion in style, and that is certainly what the city will be doing over the next ten days.
The Guild City Festival’s 10 days of celebration – one to mark each year since Preston achieved city status a decade ago - will take a journey across the decades with a theme of ‘looking backwards to look forwards’. Beginning by paying homage to Guilds dating back to 1922, the ten-day spectacle will see the baton of future celebrations passed on to the younger generation with a bright programme of events that will bring us right up to date.
One of the first events to take place, on 1 and 2 September, will be A Guild Vintage Weekend, curated by Wayne Hemingway MBE and Gerardine Hemingway MBE. The two-day event in Avenham Park, will celebrate the creative cultural past, present and future of all things Northern, from live entertainment, performances, fashion shows, music, art and food. Even the Guild of 1942, which was cancelled for a decade because the country was at war, will be celebrated thanks to the Spirit of ’42 Ball.
In a world first, Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins, will sing with José Carreras in the one-off open air Preston Guild Proms in the Park on Friday, September 7.
The following day some of Britain’s biggest urban and soul artists are coming to Preston to star at the Guild music extravaganza, G-Fest. A host of chart-topping stellar acts are confirmed to appear at the all-day music festival, with soul star Maverick Sabre headlining a stunning bill along with iconic urban performer Labrinth, former N-Dubz front-man Dappy and feisty R&B girl group Stooshe.
This will mark the start of the final weekend of celebrations, and events will fast-forward through time to WE PLAY Expo, the North West Closing event for the London 2012 Olympics. This lively festival will be an explosive mix of music, performance and urban art with some of the North West’s hottest hip hop talent headlining on the Saturday, including Skittles Live Band and Strategy from Broke ‘n’ £nglish. Iconic Northern Quartet, Kid British, fresh from supporting the Stone Roses, front up the Sunday night line-up.
The Guild will also have plenty to offer families, including Championsheeps. Taking place from Saturday, September 1, to Monday, September 3, this event will see Frenchwood Rec transformed into a farmyard full of crazy, farm-themed sporting challenges for all the family. These will include the Naughty Pig Sack Race, Cabbage Keepie Uppie and Get Fit with the Flock as well as aerobics and dancing with Radio DJ Roberto.
Also sure to be a family favourite is the Luminarium from Architects of Air, which will also be on Frenchwood Rec along with Championsheeps. The Luminarium is a giant, colourful plastic structure whose design is based on Moorish architecture. The maze of tunnels within the Luminarium give visitors a chance to experience light and colour from a new perspective.
At the heart of the Guild, however, are the civic celebrations that mark a tradition dating back to 1179 when King Henry II granted Preston the right to have a Guild Merchant. Guild members – tradesmen, craftsmen and merchants – had a monopoly on trade in the town and only its members could carry out craft or business.
The Guild celebrations grew from the regular but infrequent updating of its membership lists at the Guild Court, which this year will take place on September 3. This procedure ensured that people were not falsely claiming the right to trade in the town. The 20 year gap was chosen in 1542 because this guaranteed that memberships were renewed at least once for each generation.
Since then Preston Guild - the only Guild in the country - has experienced tremendous growth and this year it see will some impressive figures generated by the four civic parades, including the Guild Trades Procession on September 1, the Churches Procession on September 3, the Community Procession on September 7 and the Torchlight procession on September 8.
Between them they will see about 20,000 people taking part together with 189 floats, 43 bands or live musical accompaniment and 142 different walking groups.
Behind the scenes 200 people have built the site where all the events will take place in the city centre and in Avenham and Miller Parks. In the week leading up to the event they laid 20km of cables and installed 4km of fencing.
In fact, everything is now in place for the biggest party Preston has seen for … well, about 20 years.
Bring on the audience!
