Sew far sew good for Llanelli retrofest

We are even sewing back in time for Llanelli Retrofest.

Enthusiasm for the step back in time festival is gathering pace.

Even sewing machines have been humming along at Llanelly House with a volunteer band of seamstresses turning out bonnets for the event with expert tuition and support of Llanelli theatrical costume suppliers and manufacturers Costumes to Go.

The plan is to bring Llanelli alive recalling the good old days when costermongers competed for custom in the main streets of Llanelli.

On Friday and Saturday September 26 and 27, Vaughan Streetand Stepney Street will be filled with olde worlde buskers and traders with trestle tables in the street.

Steam engines will roll up and down the streets and there will be a selection of vintage cars on display.

Llanelly House is playing its part with staff dressing up in period costumes to cast us back in time.

Jesters will be taking to the streets telling stories of the town and Town Criers will be calling all to attention to make sure everyone knows what is going on.

There will be several busker sites along both Vaughan and Stepney Street and a central stage area with the entertainers making a tour of all the sites competing for the best performance.

There will be an opportunity for open top bus rides starting from a point close to Llanelly House travelling down to the coast road through Llanelli and back round to the town centre via Sandy Roundabout.

Everyone is invited to the street festival and organisers want to see all ages joining in the spirit of the event and donning a bonnet or a mop cap.

County executive board member for regeneration and leisure,Cllr Meryl Gravell, said: “Sewing machines have been singing at Llanelly House as a team, backed by Communities First, had the idea of taking Llanelli back in time for a week in September as part of the High Streets Campaign to create an attraction to increase tourism.

“Sew back in time is an opportunity to introduce the community to the skills of needlework while learning about the history of their town.

“It is also a wonderful opportunity to create a wardrobe of clothes for the use of visitors to the house including school visits which will make the house viable for the future.”

Costumes to Go director Maureen Rhys said: “We are meeting twice a week and the team have produced some classic bonnets of the period of Llanelly House.

“We will be turning out some more for the traders for Retrofest so that everyone has a link with the past.”