ORGANISERS of millennium celebrations across the North West gathered in Blackburn today as the town and region launched their plans for the year 2000.

The New Millennium Experience Company, organisers of celebrations across the country, chose Blackburn with Darwen Council's launch in King William Street to begin their 100-day North West countdown.

Events, sponsored by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and Blackburn Shopping Centre, featured acts and entertainment.

Pupils from Westholme School sang their own composition of "We Can Make It There", which has won them a place in the Nationwide Voice of Promise competition.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's millennium youth games were also to be showcased, with demonstrations of events and appearances by Blackburn Rovers players.

A kabbadi demonstration, English civil war event, samba band and live music by three bands were due to round off the afternoon. Originally, Blackburn with Darwen Council planned to stage 50 themed weeks next year, but cost forced the project to be scaled down.

Events now planned include:

Firework displays across the borough at midnight on Millennium Eve.

Lighting of Darwen Tower, including a launch on January 1 with music, children's performances and street entertainment.

The Blackburn with Darwen People 2000 project run by the council and Action Factory Community Arts who will set up craft workshops.

Video 2000, a Blackburn College film of the year 2000 in the borough.

Darwen Library Theatre, opening week celebration in January.

Women's Week, March 4 -10.

A major exhibition of Japanese art at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery from March 25-July 1.

Folk and beer festival (April 27-29) Green Week (May 13-19) and Roots and Reggae Festival (May 19-21).

Darwen Millennium Music Festival, to coincide with the BBC's "Music Live" events.

Lancashire Youth Games (June 24-30) and Blackburn Soul Weekend (June 23-25).

Millennium South Asian Festival (July 8-25).

Mardi Gras festival, August Bank Holiday. International Festival with visits from Blackburn with Darwen's twin towns. (September 30 - October 13).

Our Town Story, Blackburn with Darwen's day at the Greenwich Millennium Dome.

World Music Festival (November 2- 4).

Blackburn Town Centre Crystal Fair (November 18-24).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.