Three Towns Forum

The Local => What's On => Topic started by: SteveH on March 30, 2016, 04:17:29 pm

Title: 40,s festival Colwyn Bay 2016
Post by: SteveH on March 30, 2016, 04:17:29 pm
40s festival to return to Colwyn Bay

COLWYN Bay’s most popular festival is to return this year with two new attractions including two Second World War tanks.
 
The forties festival - which is in its fifth year - will be held on the weekend of April 16 and 17 and will feature restored tanks, stalls, exhibitions, live music, displays, entertainment as well as a re-enactment.
 The celebration event is run and organised by the Bay of Colwyn Business Network(BCBN). The highlight of the weekend will be the Ballroom Blitz Dance, a 1940s style dance held on Saturday evening at Parc Eirias, with live music.
 
Teresa Carnall, chair of Bay of Colwyn Business Network, said: "Last year the event brought almost £300,000 of economic benefit to the area and its growing year on year.
 
"When we first looked at putting on an event in the town we originally were going to just put on a networking event with a food theme.
“However, as we looked further into the history of our town and realised the massive commitment the residents made to the war effort the town deserved more recognition.”
The event, based in Penrhyn Road, has been inspired by the key role that Colwyn Bay played during the war as the UK headquarters for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. For the first time, a Dig for Victory agricultural display will be held on Station Road on the Sunday.
 
Two tanks from the Second World War have been carefully restored and will be displayed on Penrhyn Avenue along with the rest of the military vehicles.
There will be a M8 Greyhound, produced by Ford and used by both British and American troops, as well as a Halftrack.
Teresa added: “We wanted to do something that would help promote the regeneration of the area and encourage visitors to come into our town and see what Colwyn Bay has to offer.
“Previous years the event has attracted up to 15,000 people.”

The Battle in the Park, where re- enactors play out battle scenes using replica weapons and dress in authentic uniforms from the era, will start at 3.30pm on Sunday, April 17.
 
During the Ballroom Blitz Dance on April 16 at Parc Eirias, dancers will be able to Jitterbug and Lindy Hop to the sounds of DJ Major Swing and Paul Casper, aka George Formby.
 
Tickets cost £12.50 or £20 (to include hot food) and are available from Alpha Business Centre, Penrhyn Road, Colwyn Bay. Alternatively, visit https://colwynbayballroomblitz.eventbrite.co.uk (https://colwynbayballroomblitz.eventbrite.co.uk).

http://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/160338/40s-festival-to-return-to-colwyn-bay.aspx (http://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/160338/40s-festival-to-return-to-colwyn-bay.aspx)