Free family fun on offer as city celebrates 20/08 day

Aug 21 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

Free family fun on offer as city celebrates 20/08 day

ATTRACTIONS across the region saw an huge increase in visitor numbers yesterday, as thousands of people took advantage of free offers to mark 20/08 day.

Families made the most of the good weather and events such as a Victorian day, in Sefton Park, saw big numbers to celebrate the fifth annual 20/08 day.

Each business hosting an event received a special 20/08 pack and certificate and 10 competitions were run, with prizes ranging a free Cavern CD to a hospitality package at Everton FC.

The National Wildflower Centre, in Huyton, which originally sparked the idea for 20/08 day by making a floral display in 2003 gave patrons free entry along with many other attractions, including Croxteth Hall.

Tourists also took advantage of the offers and city restaurants said their discounts had been taken up in huge numbers with expectations high for yesterday evening.

Prize winners got the chance to see inside the art installation Turning The Place Over, opposite Moorfields station.

The project by international artist Richard Wilson consists of the front of a building which has an oval cut-out that rotates.

Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “Our fifth annual 20/08 day celebrations seem to have gone down a treat.

“It’s a great way to mark our Capital of Culture status, and a visitor boost for the many venues and attractions that get involved in 20/08 each year”.

The 20/08 date, precedes Liverpool’s 800th birthday by eight days.

The city will now see birthday celebrations in full flow, with Liverpool’s oldest family to be announced at the Town Hall, with the winners receiving a host of prizes including places as guests of honour on the birthday and a stay in the new Hard Days Night Hotel.

On Wednesday, an anniversary album to mark The Cavern’s 50th birthday will be launched and over the weekend workshops will take place to finish preparing the centre piece for the celebrations – a Birthday Giant – and costumes for a huge birthday pageant next Tuesday.

The workshops are from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26 at the Lower Horseshoe Gallery at World Museum Liverpool.

On Monday, the city will see 300 community parties and the Giant will also be formally named in St Johns Gardens.

The birthday itself starts at 11am on Tuesday, when the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress will lead dignitaries from around the world on a civic procession to the Town Hall.

As the procession draws to a close, a pageant, which will involve hundreds of Merseysiders, will begin outside St George’s Hall with the presentation of the Liverpool Giant, culminating in a huge fireworks display.

lizawilliams