RESIDENTS, visitors and businesses are invited to join an historic stroll around the town this summer as part of the Knutsford Promenade 2014.

Last year saw the introduction of the Knutsford Promenades when the town came alive with theatre, music, dance and art as King Street was transformed into an open air stage.

The original plans for 2014 had to be put on hold as Arts Council funding was not available, but organisers Sarah Flannery and Julie Tempest gained the backing of Knutsford Town Council to stage a slightly different event on July 5.

“We want to create the ‘promenading’ style of old, when people would dress in their best and promenade around their town to meet and chat to friends and neighbours,” said Sarah.

For the event, people are invited to dress in time-travelling fashion by wearing clothes appropriate to 150 years ago, 100 years ago, or 25 years ago (the Eighties), to echo three key milestones in the town’s history – the 150th anniversary of the Royal May Day, the centenary of the start of WW1, and the Knutsford Heritage Centre’s silver anniversary.

“We are working with the heritage centre to create a promenade which will take people on a route which includes sites of interest to the town, including many of the ‘Museum on the Street’ sites, and others that reflect other special anniversaries such as the commemoration of the start of WW1,” said Julie.

“At many of the sites the plan is to include a short narration, piece of physical theatre or music to create a real community atmosphere.”

The organisers are working closely with town centre businesses to ensure that not only can they contribute from the ‘street party’ promenading atmosphere, but they can also make the most from a business point of view.

Sarah said: “Many retailers have already said how keen they are to have some kind of street party in 2014, so we are hoping that all business will embrace the event by dressing up in outfits appropriate to 150, 100, or 25 years ago, and create cafe-style living on King Street.”

Organisers propose to close King Street to traffic from around 3pm to 8pm from the junction with Church Hill to the junction with Minshull Street.

For more information, email Sarah or Julie info@bluebarnacles.co.uk.