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Gloucester Goes Retro Returns

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This year Gloucester Goes Retro will be driving into the city on Saturday, August 24, as the event returns for its ninth year.

The UK’s finest Retro Festival is organised and funded by Gloucester City Council in partnership with the Gloucester Business Improvement District and is one of the highlights of the city’s vibrant festival calendar.

The festival that sees the city filled with the sights and sounds of yesteryear features hundreds of classic cars, live music, vintage fashion, and much more.

Head to the gate streets where you’ll see the finest vintage vehicles on display, from the 1900s right through to the 1990s. Marvel over the gleaming chrome of the fifties, the iconic designs of the swinging sixties and the classic sports cars of the eighties.

The recently restored Folk of Gloucester on Westgate Street will be hosting a Restoration Village in partnership with Retroclassic Engineering. 

It will shine a light on restoring cars and you can even see some work in progress. There’ll also be free children's activities. 

New for this year, Kings Square will be host to the Revival Zone with a vintage and antiques fair plus a disco. There will also be an all-day Scalextric competition hosted by The Commentators providing some lively racing commentary.

Down at Gloucester Docks there’ll be more fantastic cars, tasty food and live music on the Mariners Square Stage while next to The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum there’ll be a Military Village. It will feature a huge REME 32-tonne recovery vehicle and the World War II Hellcat tank.

And if that wasn’t enough the iconic 124 year-old schooner, Kathleen & May, will be open to the public from 11am-5pm. Step aboard and take a seat in the captain's cabin, try out the crew’s bunks, and learn about her past, present and future.

So don’t forget to dig out your best retro and vintage outfit and take part in our Best Dressed Competition. And local business can get involved too with the Best Dressed Shop Window competition and Best Dressed Team.

Councillor Caroline Courtney, Cabinet member for Culture and Leisure at Gloucester City Council, said: “ Gloucester Goes Retro is one of the highlights of our city’s year. It’s a fantastic atmosphere and everyone is here to enjoy themselves and make the most of our beautiful city. It’s also a great chance to support local businesses and enjoy all that Gloucester has to offer.”

The event starts at 10am and is free to attend.

Visit www.gloucestergoesretro.uk and follow the Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/gloucestergoesretro.