Heywood 1940s Day 2024
Schedule
Sat Jun 22 2024 at 10:00 am
Location
Heywood Town Centre | Rochdale, EN
Heywood 1940's Day is back this year on Saturday 22nd June 2024. As usual a fun packed day has been organised, with something for everyone, for every generation to enjoy. Hold on to your hats… Here goes!On the Saturday morning Hill Street carpark encampment will see an array of military and vintage vehicles arriving for a 10am start including a full size replica Hurricane and Spitfire, military displays from lots of nations in the fight against the dark side, military vehicles, classic cars and vintage tractor as well as weapons on display. NEW this year we have the Yanks here with a full weapons display on how they keep the enemy at bay. All to the backing music of Dapper Dan spinning the vinyl from 11am.
Wave the Evacuees off from the East Lancashire Railway Heywood Station after 9:30am and their return from the country (well, Ramsbottom!) at 11:50am, where they will be allocated a “willing” adult to stay with. They’ll all jump on the Vintage Buses just in time for the parade and their attendance at our Annual Street Party!
Don't forget to line the streets for the Town’s Official Armed Forces Day Parade, leaving from The Heywood Reform Club, Tower Street, Heywood, at 1300 hours prompt. Leading with the official standards, Veterans and Cadets alike will be marching along with the Pipes and Drums Band around the town and returning to The Heywood Reform Club. Any vintage/military vehicles or persons wanting to join the parade are very much welcome to do so and should be there at 12:30pm.
Stalls and children activities including vintage fairground rides and Punch & Judy, will be outside the Civic Centre. Whilst across the road at St Luke's, their NAAFI is open 12-5pm and the usual 1940s Day Concert kicking off at 12:15pm with Dan’s band and the rest leading on from 1:30pm after the parade. With acts including Sign Along with Us, Tracing Steps, VOICE and music, instruments, dance and acting from the era with talent from our own Town, it's a fully entertaining show for all the family, pick a deck chair on the lawn of St Luke's.
Experience the Air Raid shelters over at Mike Goldrick Window Blinds, inside Tilly's Tea Room as they perform hourly Air Raids (12pm, 2pm & 3pm), with their Home Guard and unexploded bomb display. Open all day for selfies and music to dance along to by Neil Dumbleton from 11am.
Mission Street will be hosting our annual Street Party, when the Evacuees return home, at 2pm to enjoy a party of sandwiches, cake and decorate a postcard of Heywood to send home to their families!
Heywood Magic Market have Rachel Grace, the Skylark of Vintage inside preforming sets at 12:15pm, 1:45pm and 2:45pm, also there is a funfair ride on their carpark. NEW this year, we are proud to introduce a working Merlin Engine inside a Hurricane replica plane, it will be situated on the Market Carpark and will be firing up throughout the day. There’s lots of chances to experience the fierce power of this engine so pop down anytime throughout the day!
If dance is your thing, then join Lille de Carlo singing at the Annual Tea Dance at Trinity Methodist Church, tickets can be bought on the day, just have a wander down. Or visit The Heywood Reform who are open 12-12pm, full itinerary of family events, including singing sweetheart, Sarah Dennis and a DJ, The Dressers Arms for more live music and The Queen Anne will have live entertainment late afternoon, going into the evening. Imli are opening from 1pm for food and drink while The Kings also have Sarah Dennis on early afternoon. We’ll leave you with the pubs to finish the day, phew!