Regular updates and any changes will be displayed here and other parts of the CRL website and via the Community Rail Lancashire Facebook Page.
REGULAR EVENTS
Every Tuesday – Clitheroe Country Market, in the Church Hall on Moor Lane, Clitheroe BB7 1AZ, 09:30 – 12:00 – a country market with quality home-baked, hand-made and home grown produce. A wide selection of goods from a co-operative of local producers. Home-made cakes, pies and jams also handicraft items such as cards, knits and textile gifts. More details on https://www.facebook.com/Clitheroe-Country-Market-307301586087846/
First Thursday of every month – St. Anne’s Farmers Market, in the main square in St. Anne’s a monthly farmers market with locally and regionally produced food and drink on sale. Meet the people who grow, rear, make and bake your food. More details on www.visitlancashire.com/
Third Saturday of every month – Clitheroe Piano Meet Up, would you like to meet fellow players, share knowledge and develop your performance skills on a Bechstein grand? Then get along to Clitheroe Library on the third Saturday of the month 12:45 – 15:30 for more details contact Janet or Liz on clitheroepiano@gmail.com or download the poster on this link Clitheroe Piano Meet Up
Last Saturday of the month until October – Darwen Artisan Market – a celebration of creativity and community on the last Saturday of the month, at Darwen’s Monthly Artisan Market on the vibrant Darwen Market Square. Immerse yourself in the charm of this lively town and experience a delightful event that celebrates local creativity and craftsmanship.
Fourth Weekend of each month – Whalley Monthly Artisan Market, located in the heart of Whalley, this weekend market brings together art, design, fashion, vintage and much more from over 35 local North West creators, makers and curators. 10:00 – 16:00. Full details on this link: Whalley Artisan Market
Clitheroe Castle Museum. Opening hours are 11:00 to 16:00 daily. Details of this over 800 year old castle can be found on this link: lancashire.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums/clitheroe-castle-museum/
Blackburn Library & Museum
Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday 12:00 – 16:45 with free admission. Please visit blackburnmuseum.org.uk/plan-your-visit/ for details.
OTHER EVENTS
Sounds in the Palace – A series of concerts in the Palace, 18 Garden Street, St. Annes – concerts hosted by St. Annes Town Council roughly twice a month and full details can be found on this link: Palace concerts. The Palace is just a few minutes walk from the railway station.
Now and until Friday 30 May 2025 – Sunshine, Soca and Spice – 50 years of Preston Caribbean Carnival and exhibition at the Lancashire Archives, Bow Lane, Preston PR1 2RE. Monday to Friday 09:30 – 17:00 – free and no need to book.
Friday 22 November 20254 to 5 January 2025 – Lancaster on Ice – Award Winning and internationally recognised Lancaster on Ice returns for the 2024 season to the historic Dalton Square, in the heart of Lancaster. LANCASTER ON ICE is BACK and returns with Christmas Market Stalls, the Giant Tipi Bar, 800m real ice, Ice-Rink and giant Ferris Wheel. Open 09:00 – 22:00 every day except Christmas Day. Just 10 mins from Lancaster station.
Saturday 23 November 2024 – Lancashire Rail Ramblers Guided Walks – two guided walks led by the volunteers from the Lancashire Rail Ramblers in the Chester area. Walk 1 is a moderate 11 miles. Walk 2 is an easy 7.5 miles. For both walks alight and return Chester. Full details of these and other walks on Lancashire Rail Rambler Guided Walks Autumn/Winter 2024/25
Saturday 23 November 2024 – Nelson Christmas Lights Switch On – Festive Food, Stalls, Fireworks, Fire Breathers. A free event 13:00 – 17:00.
Saturday 23 November 2024 – Preston Christmas Lights Switch On – join Preston BID, Smooth Radio North West and special guests for the big Christmas Lights switch on taking place on the Flag Market, just 10 mins from Preston station.
Saturday 23 November 2024 & Sunday 24 November 2024 – Art Exhibition – an exhibition of art by Chas Jacobs (& Kate Jacobs) in the Ashton Memorial, Williamson Park, Lancaster (20 mins by public transport or 30 minutes walk from the station). Original paintings, prints, greeting cards & Christmas cards available. Free Entry. Pop along for a glass of fizz & mince pie! Exhibition open 10:30 – 15:30.
Saturday 30 November & Sunday 1 December 2024 – Model Railway Exhibition – Blackburn & East Lancashire Model Railway Society’s annual exhibition is taking place at Oswaldtwistle Mills Business Centre, just a few minutes walk from Church & Oswaldtwistle station. £5 admission for adults and family tickets available. Saturday 10:00 – 17:00 and Sunday 10:00 – 16:00.
Saturday 30 November 2024 – Settle Christmas Lights Switch On – Join in with Settle’s annual Christmas Lights Switch on Event.
The festivities start from 12:00 with fireworks and lights switch on from 17:00. Full details on Settle Christmas Lights. This event is accessible by using the Yorkshire Dales Explorer – see https://communityraillancashire.co.uk/lines/yorkshire-dales-explorer/
Saturday 30 November 2024 – St. Annes Christmas Lights Switch On – the big switch on for St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea with Santa Around Town before the big event – St. Anne’s Road West Car Park 15:50 – 17:45 and see also the poster on this link SAS Xmas Lights
Sunday 1 December 2024 – Fylde Sand Dunes Guided Walk – Explore Fylde’s beautiful beaches, sand dunes and local Nature Reserve. Learn about the importance of our amazing dunes, the wildlife that lives there and the value of the Fylde Sand Dunes Project. More information and how to book this FREE guided walk go here https://www.lancswt.org.uk/events/2024-12-01-fylde-sand-dunes-guided-walk and download a poster with QR code here: Fylde Sand Dunes Project
Tuesday 10 December 2024 – A CRL Guided Walk – a walk led by the volunteers from the Lancashire Rail Ramblers, the walk is a moderately Easy 7 miles starting at Rishton (11:00) and finishing at Clitheroe. Full details of this and other walks on Community Rail Lancashire Guided Walks (Summer & Autumn 2024)
Saturday 14 December 2024 – A CRL Guided Walk – a walk led by the volunteers from the Lancashire Rail Ramblers, the walk is a moderate 10 miles starting at Bromley Cross (10:15) and finishing at Darwen. Full details of this and other walks on Community Rail Lancashire Guided Walks (Summer & Autumn 2024)
Saturday 14 December 2024 – Lancashire Rail Ramblers Guided Walks – two guided walks led by the volunteers from the Lancashire Rail Ramblers in the Adlington (Lancs) area. Walk 1 is a moderately Strenuous 12 miles – alight Adlington and return Chorley. Walk 2 is an easy 8 miles – alight and return Adlington. Full details of these and other walks on Lancashire Rail Rambler Guided Walks Autumn/Winter 2024/25
Explore Lancashire By Rail
A series of films is being made for Community Rail Lancashire by a local creative film company Huckleberry Films which are designed to encourage people to Explore Lancashire by Rail. Details of this exciting project that covers the four CRPs across Lancashire can be seen on this page Lancashire-by-Rail/
Places to Visit
Click on the link here communityraillancashire.co.uk/local-places-to-visit/ to see a host of interesting places to visit that are close to CRL’s community rail stations.
Destinations
Click on the link here communityraillancashire.co.uk/destinations/ for a page of suggestions for places and towns to visit – all suggestions and content considered.
Make a Beeline for the Station
‘Make a Beeline for the Station!’ is a community marketing project, that combined the vital elements of local education and wider group engagement with tourism attractions and professional marketing. The project, funded by a Northern Seedcorn Grant and by the Community Rail Development Fund is designed to encourage use of Northern’s hourly weekday service from Preston to Ormskirk and then on into Liverpool using Merseyrail services.
The project is supported by a video that can be seen on this page: Make a Beeline for West Lancashire and a leaflet that can be downloaded here: Make A Bee Line
Discover the South Fylde Line
Discover the South Fylde Line is a brand-new line guide launched by the South Fylde Line Community Rail Partnership (SFLCRP) and Community Rail Lancashire (CRL) during Community Rail Week 2022. The leaflet takes you along the South Fylde Line from Preston to Blackpool South highlighting many things you can do along the line. The full leaflet can be viewed by clicking on this link: Discover the South Fylde Line.
Discover Amazing Women by Rail
Discover Amazing Women by Rail is a project initiated by the Mid Cheshire Line CRP and invites people to leave their car at home and use the train (along with buses and trams) to explore the fascinating, and often hidden, histories of women who lived and worked in areas along the Mid Cheshire and Calder Valley railway lines, including the Blackburn to Manchester via Todmorden route.
The project is supported with a website (www.amazingwomenbyrail.org.uk) by an A5 booklet available from local stations, tourist information offices and libraries. The booklet can also be downloaded using this link: Amazing Women by Rail