Barnard Castle is getting ready to celebrate this month with the 140th annual Meet weekend.
The town centre is looking more festive with union flags and red, white and blue bunting already in place, for the traditional Whit bank holiday event.
This year organisers have put together a packed programme of events over three days which includes a pet show, fun run, history exhibition, car boot sale, grand fancy dress parade and three days of live music.
As this year marks the 140th anniversary since the start of the Meet, which was originally established as a cycling meet, and as it is also the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Stockton to Darlington Railway, the volunteer committee have chosen a transportation theme,
Following the success last year there will be another Meet exhibition with memorabilia, photographs and costumes on display at The Witham gallery from May 20, through until June 2, along with personal memories of the event through the decades from various residents and visitors.
Businesses are invited to decorate their windows between May 19 and 24, ready for the shop window competition, which also has transportation as a theme.
Activities kick off on Saturday, May 24, on the lower Demesnes, from 10am with the opening of the popular car boot sale. A trail 5km fun run and 2km run for all ages has been organised at 10.30am and all proceeds will go to support Barney Park Run.
There will be more Meet mayhem on the River Tees when teams compete to win the silver paddle in Not the Boat Race. Teams, in anything but a boat, will take to the water at County Bridge for a 1pm voyage to the Green Bridge.
Entertainment continues on the lower Demesnes at 2pm with a pet show when there will also be a dog agility display, children’s games and a fairground organ.
The committee have extended the live music offering this year with the performance stage in action from 3pm with Affinity Choir entertaining, followed by local youth bands. Live music, including open mic sessions, is on Sunday, May 25, at 1pm with Caitlin Morrow followed by 5 From Here 1 From There, North Road, JD and the Woodmen and Channel 4 News Team.
The traditional procession on Monday, May 26, will set off from Glaxo car park at 1pm after judging and organisers say they are hoping there will be a wide variety of classic vehicles in the parade along with a few cycles.
North Riding will be the first band on stage from 2pm. Bootleg 60s, Revamps and Blue Scarrow are also set to perform into the evening. During the afternoon a children’s magician will also be performing three shows.
Throughout the weekend there will be a bar on the Demesnes along with a variety of food vendors.
