Showcasing the best of Lancashire: Plans announced for new three-day festival celebrating Red Rose county

Events organiser and businesswoman Mellony Baron is now spreading the word about the "Lancashire Music, Lifestyle, Food and Drink Festival".

Mellony said she will draw on her experience as part of Chorley's Totally Locally group, which has helped to organise numerous events locally at Christmas and Halloween. She said: "I have over 10 years in the event industry ...together with some other fellow stall holders and organisers we thought we would put our experience together and host a three day bank holiday event."

The festival will be held at the Great Harwood Showground on April 30 and May 1 and 2. Mellony said the venue has been chosen for its size and easy accessibility from different parts of the county.

She said: "Covid has been such a burden that we have all had to endure.. We want to come together, have fun and also boost the economy within the district. What makes us stand out from the average food and drink festival - we are true to our ethos of Lancashire! "

Mellony runs mobile gin bar Snaffle, which is located in a converted vintage horse trailer and offers more than 100 gins. She also works in the family business, Uncle's Pawnbrokers on Market Street, Chorley. She said: "We want to promote and boost Lancashire business, Lancashire produce, Lancashire talent and how richly diverse and steeped in history our red rose county is. We want families and people all ages to come, relax, enjoy and savour the atmosphere, but more importantly be proud of who we are and where we are from. We've such a fantastic history of our industry and our food and drink and our cultures."

Confirmed events and attractions include artisan and food stalls, a car show, fashion and a mini fun fair, street food and a mobile bar and live performances.

Mellony added: "We want to really put this event on the map and showcase our talent in Lancashire. We want traders, performers - the more the merrier, the more unique the better. We're embracing everything about Lancashire. I am going to approach a lot of different faiths as well."

* One of those taking part in the event will be Chorley fashion designer Ross Griffiths, (pictured with Mellony), who will be presenting his Kingfisher Couture fashion collection at the show.

* Anyone wishing to appear at or in the Festival can contact Mellony by email at [email protected]

For more about Ross's just launched collection see hereTo subscribe to the Lancashire Post see here