The colourful Shake and Stir Festival is back for 2020.

After an absence last year, the hugely popular vintage music and dance event in Fisherman’s Walk and Southbourne Grove is returning on June 27 and 28.

It will be even bigger and better says organiser and managing director of Stir! Events, Mandy Polkey.

And new for this year is a Shake and Stir ‘fringe’ in the week leading up to the weekend itself.

Mandy said: “It’s going to be a brilliant event. We have a number of sponsors on board already and we’re working closely with BCP Council.”

The last festival in 2018 attracted 34,000 visitors and proved to be a major boost to the business community.

The 2020 highlights will include

◾️Music from the 1920s-1970s on four different stages

◾️Classic car displays

◾️Vintage fashion shows

◾️Lindy Hop dance classes

◾️1940s themed area

◾️Watch With Mother 1960s themed area for children

◾️Mungo Jerry to celebrate the 50th anniversary of In The Summertime at the event.

◾️DJ and teddy boy Dave Norrell to host the main stage

◾️Competitions for Vintage King, Queen, Prince and Princess.

“There will be much more besides,” added Mandy. “It will be a really green festival too. “We are working towards securing a carbon neutral certificate, and pulling together significant recycling and green traffic and transport plans.”

The opening times of the festival are: Fisherman’s Walk, Saturday 11-6pm, Sunday 11-4pm. Southbourne Grove 11-10pm only.

Dawn Nottage, chairman, of Southbourne on sea Business Association said: “We have supported the festival for several years and are really looking forward to seeing it back this year. It is a great boost for residents, visitors and the business community and a real highlight of the calendar. It’s very exciting.”

Head of Resort Marketing and Events at BCP, Jon Weaver, added: “We want to do all we can to encourage vibrant events like Shake and Stir, which are a great boost for the local community and visitors. We wish them the very best of luck.”