Ormskirk celebrates gingerbread heritage
ORMSKIRK’S first-ever Gingerbread Festival takes place this weekend, with lots of fun planned for all the family.
On Saturday, the Mayor of West Lancs, Cllr Liz Savage, will perform the opening ceremony at 10am, helped by town crier Don Evans.
Shops and stalls will be decorated with a Gingerbread theme and plenty of entertainment will be provided in the Event Square, in Moor Street.
There will be theatre performances from the Lancashire Revels, a magician, clowns and circus performers, face painting (in Swinton Insurance, in Church Street) and vintage games.
Music will be provided by Francesca, who will entertain with songs from the ’40s and ’50s and a wide variety of songs will be performed by the Community Choir.
A full-size version of the exclusive Gingerbread model will be on display on the plinth in Moor Street and people are encouraged to take photos.
The Gingerbread Lady will be giving out samples of Ormskirk Gingerbread and challenging the youngsters with Gingerbread-themed games with a prize every time.
Ormskirk has been renowned for its gingerbread for centuries and there were many gingerbread makers in the town, including Sally Woods, Sarah Fyles and Annie Shaw.
Exhibitions of Ormskirk’s past will be on display, courtesy of Chris Bentley’s Ormskirk Bygone Times. Visitors will also be able to take advantage of special offers in shops and restaurants across the town.
Shaw’s Boutique, in Burscough Street, will be offering a 10% discount on goods bought on Festival Day.
O’Brien’s Tea Rooms will be offering £1 off their afternoon tea (with gingerbread) and Eat, Drink and Love have a special offer of Tea and Ginger Cake for £3.50.
Other venues across the town will be serving special Gingerbread menus and The Chapel Gallery Café will be serving Gingerbread themed food and drink during the week of the Festival. Gingerbread is now on sale at Neil’s stall in the market.
The Source, in Wheatsheaf Walk, is putting on a special evening the night before the Festival. There will be a special tasting of Ormskirk Gin with Ginger as one of its botanicals and the launch of Ormskirk Gingerbread Beer. Tickets are £20 and you can book directly at The Source.
There will be another opportunity to sample these new drinks in Wheatsheaf Walk on festival day.
Also launching a Gingerbread Beer on Festival Day is the Hop Vine Beer Shoppe. Here, too, you will be able to sample this new drink.
The Festival has been organised by Ormskirk Community Partnership and supported by West Lancashire Borough Council.