To celebrate the relaunch of one of Liverpool’s most iconic museums, Western Approaches, Exchange Flags are holding Swing for Victory – a one-off event on Saturday, July 4th to tie in with Cunard’s 175th anniversary sailing celebrations.
The museum, once a historical wartime bunker which played a big part in the winning of the Battle of the Atlantic, has undergone a period of refurbishment, and will relaunch on the 4th, with tours available throughout the day.
With a real 1940s theme to the day, the event will provide visitors with a host of activities and entertainment. Within the public realm at Exchange Flags, the Mersey Belles will be performing a rendition of classics from the 1920s through to the 1950s on their ukuleles from 1.30pm-4.30pm, as well as giving a number of workshops.
There will be a replica Spitfire on display for potential photo opportunities, a Bloom Gin Garden where people can sample the brand new gins Bloom has to offer, 1940’s style street food vans and cocktails and a chance to tour Western Approaches. Street food will include a rationed theme menu from the Real Junk Food Project, Malaysian street food, Wartime Pies and cakes from Sillis.
Tickets for the day cost £10 and include access to all the day’s activity plus a free tour round the museum.
VIP tickets are also available on the day, offering visitors an unrivalled view of proceedings across the River Mersey. Taking place on the eighth floor of Walker House, guests will be provided with two free glasses of prosecco from the Bottega Bar, a selection of canapés and a balcony view of the Fashion Show and Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which is all set to replicate its maiden voyage after the firework display. Mark Armstrong will be playing 1940s classics on the eighth floor throughout the day. Tickets for the VIP experience cost £14 per person.
Libby Witherden, Head of Events and Marketing at Exchange Flags, said;
“July 4th is set to be a truly memorable day in Liverpool and we felt it was the perfect occasion to relaunch Western Approaches, which itself holds real significant history in the city. The event has got something for everyone and we’re looking forward to a full house, showcasing the museum and offering the best seats in the house for activity taking place on the River Mersey.”
Tickets for this event will be available to purchase online and on the door.
And there’ll be a whole host of celebrations taking place across the July 4th weekend, including a Guinness World Record attempt for ‘most models on a catwalk’, organised by Culture Liverpool and sponsored by Liverpool retail giant Very.co.uk. ‘The Very Big Catwalk’ will be followed by ‘The Very Big After Party’ in the form of a huge free disco on the docks – led by the DJ skills of Merseyside legend Greg Wilson playing the influential sounds the city first heard from across the pond, including the authentic American sounds of R&B, Motown, northern soul, disco and funk.
The Queen Mary 2 will once again be docked at Liverpool’s Pier Head with a stunning and unforgettable patriotic send-off planned for it’s departure, which is not to be missed.
And the Albert Dock are getting in on the action, marking the weekend with ‘Vintage on the Docks’, set to celebrate the fashion, music, film and food that has travelled across the Atlantic over the ages – from the decadent dresses of the 1920s to the swinging songs of the 60s.
The weekend festivities will also give visitors the chance sample culinary influences from the Americas with ‘Eat the Atlantic’, a giant, free food festival on Mann Island. Food demonstrations, street theatre and workshops will span the world famous waterfront offering a variety of speciality food paying tribute to the dishes from both sides of the pond.
Concluding the magnificent Independence Day celebrations will be a recreation of Cunard’s first ever transatlantic crossing. Its flagship RMS Queen Mary 2 will set sail from Liverpool Pier Head, mimicking the original journey of RMS Britannia from Liverpool to Boston that first set sail on 4 July 1840 – although the 2015 version will take passengers to New York. The historic maiden voyage marked Liverpool as the birthplace of passenger shipping and started a new era for international travel.
On Sunday 5 July, 175 vintage and futuristic vehicles from British and the US will create a ‘Classic Car Cavalcade’. Taking a land cruise through the city streets, the parade will consist of car enthusiasts, clubs and collectors and will follow a route taking in famous Liverpool landmarks along the way – such as the Chinese Arch, the city’s two iconic cathedrals and St George’s Hall.
For all the latest information on events visit www.onemagnificentcity.co.uk or follow @OMCLpool on Twitter and One Magnificent City Liverpool on Facebook.