Lytham 1940s Weekend 2024

Music, dance and speeches

INFORMATION BELOW FROM 2023. THE 2024 INFORMATION WILL BE PUBLISHED HERE WHEN AVAILABLE

The entertainment marquee situated on Lytham Green has two days of free entertainment from 10am to 5pm each day. The line up features Derek Herbert  Winston Churchill’s rousing wartime speeches, Colin Bourdiec (pictured) as George Formby and making their Lytham return for their first full weekend appearance the Bluebirds .  Paula Marie and Lytham Favourite Lancashire Belle return to entertain us once again. Back by popular demand, there’s also the chance to learn to dance with Anthony and Steph, so if you’ve got two left feet, do come and have a go and there’s the the Re Invintaged Fashion Show  both days. There will also be BSL in the marquee with Carol and Tony from CoSign. There will be a licensed forties bar in the main marquee.

There will also be military vehicles, music and dance in Clifton Square in the town centre with a resident forties DJ.

Historic vehicles and aircraft

There will be an impressive display of historic military vehicles by the MVT (Military Vehicles Trust), post war vehicles and more, parked up on Lytham Green opposite the Clifton Arms Hotel. Each day there will be a vehicle procession at 1pm that passes through the centre of Lytham, led by Winston Churchill and you’ll see jeeps, trucks, vintage bicycles and so much more…

There will be a static ME109 plus a static Spitfire display from the Lytham St Annes Spitfire Display Team. Plus, do go and support the military charities, Spirit of the Home Front and the many and varied re-enactment groups, including a canon firing display – back by popular demand!

Visitor information – what you need to know…

This is a free to visit event on Lytham Green (FY8 5LD) and run by the local authority (Fylde Council). Parking is £5 per car per day (CASH) on Lytham Green – all monies from the car park go straight back into the event to part pay towards first aid, security, marquee, traffic management and so much more!! Disabled parking areas will be available. The evening events on 18th and 19th August are ticketed and do carry a charge. There are existing toilets by the windmill, Lowther Gardens and there will be extra portable toilets (including disabled toilets) dotted around the event.

There will be food and drink at the event but we do very much encourage you to visit Lytham town centre where many of the eateries and shops get dressed up for the weekend. There’s plenty of staff and volunteers available if you need assistance. An information sheet with event timings will be available with a voluntary donation towards the event costs requested . We respectfully ask you not to wear anything that might offend others or wear anything associated with the more extreme elements of the Russian forces or Nazi regime.

Dogs – please keep dogs on leads at the event and note that no dogs are allowed in the main entertainment marquee as this can get very busy at peak times. The only exceptions being clearly identifiable guide dogs and clearly identifiable assistance dogs. Please clean up after your dog at the event if required and given the nature of the event there will be loud noises from time to time, so be mindful of the event schedule.

More information is available on the event Facebook page or call the Tourist Information team on 01253 658 443.

Facilities at the event

• Information point, lost children point, lost property and security desk
• First aid team constantly on patrol
• Toilets (including disabled toilets)
• Adjacent car parking – £5 per car per day CASH (all monies go back into the event)
• Vintage traders – clothing, military memorabilia, knick knacks and uniforms
• Food and drink – although make sure to visit Lytham town centre too
• Entertainment marquee – 10am to 5pm both days, with BSL offered
• Evening entertainment – ‘Welcome to Lytham’ (Fri 18 Aug)
• Evening entertainment – Kalamazoo Dance Band (Sat 19 Aug)

Participation forms

Would your business or organization like to attend Lytham 1940s Weekend? Attracting tens of thousands of people to the town over the weekend it’s a great way to promote your business or community group.

Please note that we cannot accept all the applications that apply and this is a themed event – therefore we may not accept any applications that are not within the wartime theme – we will let you know if your application has been accepted.

Get in touch via events@fylde.gov.uk

Lytham town centre

Away from the main event, do take time to visit the town centre of Lytham which is just 100 yards away. Many businesses make the effort to dress their shop with bunting and sandbags and the staff get dressed up and many businesses also open that would usually be shut on a Sunday. There’s plenty of places to eat and drink in the town centre and there will be dancing in Clifton Square during the weekend, as well as the vehicle parade passing through just after 1:30pm each day.

Lytham St Annes Spitfire memorial

In 2009 the Lytham St Annes Spitfire Display Team was formed as the fundraising arm of the Fylde Spitfire Memorial Fund.  The teams objective was to raise funds through public donations to build a full-size replica of the Mark VB Spitfire W3644 which was purchased by the people of the Borough in 1940. Sadly the aircraft and pilot Sgt Alan Lever-Ridings were shot down by an FW190 whilst returning from escort duty during a bombing mission over Morlaix, France.

The Memorial was officially unveiled on the 19th August 2012 at Fairhaven Lake (FY8 1BD) and do take time to visit if you can during the weekend or at a later date.

Accommodation for the weekend

There are plenty of good quality, welcoming guest houses, holiday apartments and hotels in the area and use the accommodation section on this website where there’s plenty to choose from. Always book direct for the best rates.

There is very limited overnight camping / motorhome space for registered re enactors involved with the weekend or through the NWWW2A in a designated area in Lytham. For public camping, caravans or motorhomes, please contact Ream Hills or Pipers Height (both approximately 15 minutes away).

Image shown – Glendower Hotel in St Anne’s (10 minutes from the event).