Experience an authentic vintage afternoon tea and dance, set in the beautiful 1930s Midland Hotel, with music and dancing from Vintage Festival favourite Mr Melody Man.

Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd September 

12 - 1.30 pm and 3 - 4.30 pm

Booking Required! Call the Midland Hotel for tickets on 01524 428370. Bookings can be made at reception over the weekend subject to availability. Tickets are £25. 

Transporting you back to a decadent era with energy and style, the Torch Club Ball is a celebration of dance, fashion and cuisine. Honour and relive a glimmering age of elegant chic, right in the heart of Morecambe Bay During the evening, you’ll be entertained with music, dance and performance from Mr Melody Man and the spectacular John Watson’s Rhythm Boys. Following a lavish 4 course dinner, dance into the night following the lead of hosts Hoc and Mark Ewing, promising a truly timeless evening.

To find out more about accommodation packages and to book Torch Club tickets contact The Midland Hotel: 01524 428370

Looking for something for little ones over the festival weekend? Come and meet the outrageous mermaids and fantastical sea creatures who live in the wonderful "Wagon of Dreams". Three best friends are going on an exciting ocean adventure in this interactive performance packed full of puppetry, fun and original music, performed in and around a vintage caravan.

Performances include integrated Sign Supported English.

Our vintage themed entertainers might pop-up anywhere at the festival! 

Unexpected and surprising, watch out for roaming street acts including quick-talking ‘Viv the Spiv’ who’ll try and sell you your own grandma’s nylons, ‘Jean and Morag’, everybody's favourite rambunctious ‘Tea Ladies’, and pioneers of all things vintage, retro and wonderfully absurd: the ladies who call themselves ‘Kitsch & Sync’ plus many more! 

The marvellous Vintage Market Place curated by Dotty’s Vintage is back. 

The very best authentic traders are hand-picked by Dotty’s Vintage, a haven where keen shoppers discover the most magnificent mid-century homewares, refined frockery, and fantastic fashion from the 20s to the 90s. A cornucopia of unexpected delights plus much more!

Grab a drink and a seat outside this unique bus-turned-bar set against the perfect festival soundtrack from the Routemaster DJ’s. 

Our DJs take you through an incredible journey of 20th century classics, expect an eclectic mix of Northern Soul, Funk, Jazz and everything in between.

It’s the glamourous folks of Morecambe and the visitors from miles around that make #VintagebytheSea such a visual and atmospheric feast. 

The festival provides a peerless palette of street styles and our spotters will be on the hunt for the best looks. Taking place against the glamorous backdrop of the iconic 1930s Midland Hotel, the Best in Show pop-up catwalk will feature some of the best looks and most authentic gear spotted around the festival.

Rajasthan – the land of royalty – a glittering jewel set in the golden sands of the barren Thar Desert, with a wealth of rich culture, tradition and heritage. The Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band is a living embodiment of this landscape, a spectacular celebration of its vibrant and colourful lifestyle, their music and dance a heady, exciting and hypnotic reflection of this enchanting region.

(Sunday only)

The Vintage by the Sea After Party brings Britain’s distinctive dance culture and DJ history to the fore by paying respect to our rich club culture and the DJs that have shaped it. 

For our 10 Year Anniversary Special we invite Andy Smith (ex Portishead) and friends to take us on a musical journey through the decades as they play tracks from legendary artists in Hip Hop, Funk, Disco, Boogie, Reggae, and Soul.

Andy can turn his hand to pretty much any genre and has an unrivalled ability to stitch together a story that can ‘document’ a moment in time perfectly. Rave reviews of his music and DJ’ing have come from every corner of the globe. 

In our mind there is no better DJ to honour this 10 Year Anniversary Special for Vintage by the Sea.

Get your tickets here

Enter a world of time travel and discover Morecambe the easy way by jumping onboard one of the four Vintage Buses across the festival weekend. ⁠In partnership with the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust, these classic transportation vehicles will be ferrying passengers up and down the promenade in style.⁠ 

Avoid the need for parking at the festival and jump on board the buses either in Heysham Village or Happy Mount Park and arrive in true vintage style!⁠A newly restored Morecambe and Heysham no 72 AEC Regent III will be showcased on Saturday and Sunday. Along with the scheduled buses, a 1958 Barrow Transport Leyland PD2 will run mystery tours from the bus stop at Festival Market every hour from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday only.

Vintage By The Sea Bus Timetable 2023

The Classic Car Show returns to Morecambe, showcasing a handpicked selection of stunning vintage vehicles with the backdrop of the iconic Midland Hotel. Our encyclopaedic array of cars takes in Triumphs, Morris Minors, a 1981 Delorean and many more. 

Visitors will be taken on a journey through truly vintage automotive design. And not to be forgotten, Vintage by the Sea awards the most prestigious vehicle with the Classic Car Best in Show prize!

To book in your beloved Classic Vehicle please email 

hello@decopublique.co.uk

Inspired by the vintage decades, fabulous workshops await all you crafty sorts. From 11 till 5:30pm, visit our vintage inspired maker space where you can try your hand at all kinds of crafts and traditional skills.

From printmaking to leatherworking, collage and more - lose yourself in retro visuals, seaside crafts and vintage techniques. There’s something for all ages and best of all ....most of our workshops will be totally free to try! Look out for full details of workshops in the full programme release.

What's a soul to do after they’ve purchased all their new gear from the Vintage Marketplace? 

The Vintage Hair & Beauty Salon provides makeovers to keep you vintage-fabulous, day and night, with looks from the 1920s to the 1980s. Think vintage styles from 30s finger wave, 50s cat-eyeliner and red lips, 60s bouffant beehives, 70s Farrah Fawcett flicks and 80s New Romantic curls.

Book on the day or contact Evonne at Mrs Smith Hair (formerly Guys n Dolls Hair Boutique) on 01995 238907.

Jump on board the Vintage Mobile Cinema, featured in Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces, as it returns to the festival!​ In 1967, The Ministry of Technology built seven of custom mobile cinema units to tour the country, promoting modern production techniques to British industry. 

Fast-forward fifty five years and Vintage by the Sea are very proud to present this this 32 seater cinema that has been carefully and beautifully restored, the last known survivor of the original seven. Inside the cinema, you can watch specially selected footage about the history of nostalgic seaside Morecambe, in a 10-12 minute show reel.

Sample evocative street food from our finest mobile eateries, serving everything from delicious locally sourced seafood chowder to wood-fired pizza and tasty Mexican dishes to loaded burgers. Sweet tooth? We've got you covered with handmade ices and cakes galore!

Step back in time and rejoice in old time family fun. The Vintage Fairground is returning to Morecambe Bay, bringing a collection of Heritage fairground rides for all the family! 

Enjoy a weekend of free live music from the one of a kind Melodrome Music Stage! With an energetic and dance-fueling mixture of contemporary favourites with a nostalgic twist, to straight up feet tapping soulful classics with fans that span generations, a unique good time tonic for all!

Come and browse the maker market on Saturday and Sunday, set in the spectacular Midland Hotel. Carefully selected by Hopeful & Glorious, master makers sell the very best of handmade and upcycled craft, paying homage to vintage style, kitsch and nostalgia. A treasure trove of unique and unexpected one of a kind items await!

From Bentleys to Buicks, you’ll be able to feast your eyes on over 100 vintage cars arriving along the promenade in a grand cavalcade to the Bay area, as they finish the route of this traditional 130 miles round trip rally. For one day only, you’ll be able to see this historic parade of classic cars, bikes and buses glide across the magnificent backdrop of Morecambe Bay. 

(Sunday Only)

Kitsch & Sync are a curiously quirky dance theatre and performance collective. Fusing different dance genres, characters and prop work and comedy with a vintage or retro twist. Audiences can expect quirky choreography, surreal characters, toe tapping tunes and a dressing-up box bursting with enough vintage clobber to make your gran proud!

Diamond Awl Leather Workshop will be offering taster sessions in traditional leatherwork at Vintage By The Sea. During the workshop, you will get the opportunity to learn some traditional leather skills, including hand stitching, beveling and burnishing. Book your place at the workshop marquee over the weekend. 

Length: 1.5 hours // Cost: £8 // Age 8+

Times: 11.30am - Sunglasses Case / 1.30pm - Card Wallet / 3.30pm - Sunglasses Case

Come and groove to the beat of Swing Cat Trio! This group of talented musicians will serenade you with their rendition of the finest Juke Joint Jive, Hot Swing & Cowboy Jazz tunes from the 1930s to the early 1950s. Don't miss this exciting experience that will surely tickle your ears! 

Jean and Morag, those wacky tea ladies from north of border, will be there to show off their passion for fashion, song, dance and of course bring mayhem to proceedings. We promise a good time with this chucklesome duo! 

Straight out of wartime London, our resident vintage Viv The Spiv brings his supply of quality merchandise to the seaside. Expect to pay under the odds for stockings, watches and knicker elastic. It's not nicked, it's just not paid for yet.

Twirl your way across the Midland Carpark with flair. The Pop-up Charleston Dance Classes with Anthony and Steph are back! 

Learn the toes-in, heels-out twisting steps and bring the Charleston to life outside The Midland Hotel. Whether you’re flying solo, with a partner or with the whole family, these dance classes will transport you back to the roaring 20s with style!

Step back in time with Hattie Bee, a talented vintage singer who will enchant you with her captivating performances of timeless vintage classics. Don't miss the opportunity to join in singing along with her and immerse yourself in the nostalgic charm of a bygone era.

Create your own DIY artwork of an icy dessert by adding collage, drawings and lettering to a riso-printed, vintage postcard - printed in Morecambe by Morecambe Community Riso Press. Post it to a friend saying 'Wish you were here!' or stick it on your wall at home.

Free

During this 20 minute workshop, make your own one-of-a-kind porcelain bowl! You'll receive step-by-step guidance on creating your bowl before adding designs using block printing methods. After the workshop, your pieces will be dried, fired, and glazed, and will be ready for shipping or collection approximately 14 days after the festival weekend. Book your place at the workshop marquee over the weekend. 

Length: 20 mins // Cost: £5 // Age: 10+

Choose from a selection of relief prints made by artist Ian Halawi and ink colours to make your own custom 1 or 2 colour printed image inspired by Morecambe and the surrounding area. Use hand burnishing techniques to transfer your chosen image onto paper and learn about different materials and inks as you are taken through the printmaking process.

Free

Count Indigo takes to the Melodrome Stage! On Saturday, expect soul and lounge hits and on Sunday, poignant versions of new 70's standards. He'll also be guest hosting one of our Best In Show Catwalks with Wayne Hemingway.

At 3.45pm on Sunday 3rd September, a Spitfire will roar through the skies of Morecambe Bay. The most famous British fighter aircraft in history, the Spitfire was the highest performing Allied aircraft in 1940 and we’re honoured to feature this flypast as part of our festival weekend.

Please note, the flypast is subject to change due to weather, aircraft serviceability, or timing changes by the RAF. Follow The Vintage Festival social media for updates, or contact Morecambe Visitor Information Centre for up-to-the-minute details.

Dandyism dance is inspired by the gentlemen of the Congo. The appropriation of the 18th Century French and English Dandy’s flamboyance by African men was a defence and a provocation against slavery, described by some as a resistance movement, which by the 1960’s had become a phenomenon. 

Through a celebration of individuality and drive for visibility, this piece embodies the raw and unrefined energy and expressive dynamism of various and diverse cultures from the African continent presented through dance and theatre.

Who am I? I am me! Make a statement, share your identity, or create a collaged interpretation of yourself in a badge-making workshop with Seaside Industries. Badges have been used throughout history to create a statement - what will yours say?

Grace the floors of the Midland Hotel with dance experts Hoc & Mark Ewing and transport yourself back to the Golden Age learning all the best steps from iconic dances. 

Get ready to boogie in a family-friendly rave like no other! THE PLAYHOUSE PROJECT is a daytime clubbing experience for the whole family. These beats will get all the family grooving to some well-loved dance anthems, planting positive seeds and vibes into the next generation of music lovers.

Unleash your creativity and have your face painted! Turn yourself into a beloved animal, your favourite character or why not adorn yourself with beautiful artwork for all to see! 

Artist Molly Bland will be making paper bag hand puppets inspired by 1960’s toy designer and illustrator Fredun Shapur’s ‘Playsacks’. Stop by to design your own colourful hand puppet at our Makers Marquee! 

Join Baghdad Alligators for some hip-shaking rocking blues tunes on the Melodrone stage. Straight out of Lancashire, these alligators know a thing or two about rock n roll! Get ready for some jiving and swinging!