Relive the fab fifties

DUST off your dancing shoes and sashay along to a County Durham museum for a weekend of nostalgic fun.

Beamish is to host a Festival of 50s on July 5 and 6, featuring vintage music, food, fashion and family fun – as well as memories and memorabilia from the decade.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for visitors to enter the Mr and Mrs Beamish contest, or the Master and Miss Beamish competition for those under 16,” said a spokeswoman.

“You can also join in with the dancing at the Tanner Hop, featuring live music from a 1950s- style band, or why not treat yourself to a hairdo from the decade?”

Visitors will also have the chance to take a look round a 1950s bedroom, inspect a variety of “modern” 50s household gadgets or try their hand at 1950s games.

And, to ‘ celebrate’ the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth there is also a Coronation Cake contest – with visitors invited to bring in their baking to try and win the crown.

“A donation station will also be set up at the Regional Resource Centre, for people who’d like to offer objects from the 1950s to the 1980s to us,” said the spokeswoman.

“It’s a chance to search through the loft and find a good home for 50s pinnies, Pyrex kitchenware hidden away in a corner or even mum and dad’s old Teasmade!

“There will be archive film footage from the 50s to watch too, as well as kids’ activities and a chance to share memories from the decade.”

Opening times 10am to 5pm.