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Blackpool exhibition to promote return of Wakes Weeks (From Blackpool Citizen)
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Blackpool exhibition to promote return of Wakes Weeks
11:02am Monday 27th July 2009
THE Wakes Weeks holiday is being revived during a celebration of the annual mill town migration in which generations of families flock to the coast.
The Wakes Weeks tradition grew up in mill towns across the North of England, with thousands of workers heading off to Blackpool for sun and fun when the mills shut down for the annual holiday.
Blackpool has launched the nostalgic week-long initiative to remind East Lancashire families who are looking to holiday at home because of the recession just what it has to offer.
The tourism chiefs in Britain’s premier resort have unveiled a week-long package of offers and events from August 9-16 which celebrate the holiday ritual.
They include special family rail travel offers from the historic cotton towns of East Lancashire and beyond, and an exhibition celebrating the glory days of the Wakes holidays at Blackpool North station.
At the start of Blackburn’s July 1945 Wakes Week, the first since the end of the Second World War, holidaymakers queued at the town’s railway station from early morning to catch one of 23 trains.
The following week 14 trains set off from Accrington and it was estimated that 250,000 people crammed into the resort that Saturday.
According to reports at the time, it was also estimated that the holiday-makers from East Lancs spent almost £1 million on their break from work.
One of the highlights of the Wakes Week celebration will be a special 1950s steam train excursion on the Scots Guardsman to Blackpool from Carnforth, calling at Blackburn and Preston before arriving at Blackpool North Station.
The journey will take place on Sunday, August 9, coinciding with Blackpool’s famous air show, which will feature the Red Arrows.
Coun Maxine Callow, at Blackpool Council, said: ““We believe the initiative will strike a chord with communities like Blackburn, Burnley and Accrington.”
Bookings for the special steam train excursion can be made with the Visit-Blackpool team on 01253 478222.
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Blackpool exhibition to promote return of Wakes Weeks
Blackpool exhibition to promote return of Wakes Weeks
Blackpool exhibition to promote return of Wakes Weeks
Blackpool exhibition to promote return of Wakes Weeks
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