Are you interested in getting involved in a unique “Once every 20 years” tradition that goes back 800 years?

For many people their strongest memories of Preston Guild are of taking part or watching the spectacular processions. Now is the time to start planning and to be creative about how your group, school, club or business can participate.

The planning, design and making of a float or amazing costumes is a unique way to encourage creativity, boost morale, build dynamic relationships in your group - and to have fun! This will culminate in participating in a truly memorable carnival and promoting your company or group to huge crowds and beyond through news coverage.

You are invited to get together, get your thinking caps on and get creative to work out how you could produce something amazing. We will appoint a Processions Producer to provide artistic direction to the four Processions Organising Committees and support to you as you design and create your own unique piece of history.

Preston Guild has six themes and that should help focus the ideas, the themes are:

• Creative Guild
• People’s Guild
• Green Guild
• Merchant Guild
• International Guild
• Welcome Guild

The vehicular floats will start from Moor Park with walkers joining in at Adelphi. They will then move through the packed city streets before making their way back to their starting points.

For more information about the tradition of Guild processions click here. Have a look at our Frequently Asked Questions and Event Planning Guide for specific information and advice.  

Download this for a little bit of inspiration from our Procession Producers - Walk the Plank

Getting involved – Getting registered - Important facts!

There are four organising committees to support and direct the planning and development of each procession. The committees will provide advice to participants who register and signpost them to specific workshops on health and safety, funding and on developing creative ideas, working with a Procession Producer  who will  provide artistic direction to participants ensuring that a high quality benchmark is reached and surpassed.

There are capacity limits to each procession as we aim to produce high quality imaginative processions, lasting no more than three hours in duration and therefore registrations will be on a first come first served basis.

The Community and Trades procession have now closed as their capacity has been reached. The Churches and Torchlight Processions are still open, we would encourage any group that has missed out on joining the Community Procession to look into the possibility ot taking part in the Torchlight Procession instead. Registration fees are set by the Organising Committees and payment will need to be made online by debit or credit card with the usual security controls in place. If this is really not possible, enquiries should be directed to the Visitor Information Centre, Guildhall Arcade, Lancaster Rd Tel 01772 253731 or email tourism@preston.gov.uk

After you have registered the Organising Committee will contact you to provide you with more detailed information and to encourage planning for safe participation such as carrying out a risk assessments and helping you with the current guidelines for taking part in carnivals and processions in the UK.

Any organisation taking part in a procession must follow the registration process. All participating groups will also need to provide at least 4 named helpers (dependant on the size of group). Helpers will assist on the day of the processions, helping to keep all your group together at the start, ensure that you are where you need to be when you need to be there, and assist in stewarding your group around the route. These will of course be supplemented by trained professional stewards to ensure the safety of both participants and the audience.

The route will be closed to traffic for the duration of the procession and have safety barriers throughout the city centre. This is to ensure the safety of everyone watching or particiapting. Grandstand seating will also be available, provided at strategic points on the route and details about booking will be available in due course. Adequate provision will be made for people with disabilities, including wheelchair users, to either participate or spectate in the celebrations.

Make your choice! Which Guild procession do you want to be involved in?
 

Trades Procession – Saturday 1 September 2012. Start time 11am

Churches Procession – Monday 3 September 2012. Start time 2pm

Community Procession – Friday 7 September 2012. Start time 11am

Torchlight Procession – Saturday 8 September 2012. Start time 8pm