Fylde Fest: Spring into Life was a shining success of St Annes community spirit!

St Annes Square bloomed into life in spectacular style once more on Saturday 28 March as FYLDE FEST returned for a fun-packed afternoon bursting with colour, creativity and community togetherness.

As the Spring sunshine broke through the early clouds, families, friends and visitors from all across the region flocked to the town’s exciting new event space to enjoy a fabulous FREE programme of live entertainment, hand-on activities and interactive challenges; all celebrating wellbeing, healthy living and community connection by the seaside and organised by Fylde Council and Discover Fylde.

Headlining all the fun of Fylde Fest: Spring into Life were crowd favourites and comedy legends Steve Royle (Britain’s Got Talent) and Tom Lister (Emmerdale’s Carl King), whose much-anticipated double act had the crowd roaring with laughter and joining in with their silly singalongs and daft dance routines, before the talented twosome jumped off stage and got stuck into enjoying all the activities – from an hilarious slow bike race and skateboarding sessions with Live Like Ralph, to powering their way to make their own fresh fruit smoothies at the Smoothie Bike Challenge with the Fylde Sports and Communities Team and trying their hands at all the big top skills with Circus Matrix.

There were also live demonstrations on the day from Bake Off: The Professionals finalist Raf Perussi from Beurre Patisserie who delighted foodie lovers with his Easter Egg making tutorial with deliciously healthy natural ingredients; while energetic dance sessions from Zumba Suzy and the Line Dance & Friendship Group, along with top sporting challenges with Atletico Warton, kept visitors moving throughout the afternoon.

Creative corners were also buzzing with activity, from pebble painting with iHope to plant potting with St Annes in Bloom, colourful crafts from Pot Bound, bookmarking and matcha tasting with Fable and Lego play with Red Wizard Gaming. Meanwhile, live music from UpBeat Rock Academy’s talented young bands provided the perfect soundtrack, keeping the atmosphere lively and uplifting all day long and all expertly hosted by compere Ian Hooper.

Local community groups and organisations also played a key role throughout the afternoon, showcasing the wide range of opportunities, support and activities available for all across the Fylde Coast. Their presence highlighted the true heart of Fylde Fest – bringing people together and strengthening community connections.

Councillor Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “Fylde Fest: Spring into Life has once again shown the incredible spirit of our community. It was fantastic to see so many people come together, enjoy the free activities and support local groups and performers. Even the early showers couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm and once the sun came out, it really was the perfect afternoon.

“Fylde Fest continues to grow as a highlight of our local events calendar, helping to position St Annes Square as a thriving hub for culture, community and celebration. With such an overwhelmingly positive response, this year’s Spring into Life event has set the bar for future festivals. Watch this space!”

Fylde Fest: Spring into Life was hosted by Fylde Council and Discover Fylde, with support from local partners and businesses and continues an exciting new chapter for St Annes Square’s vibrant programme of events, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).