Two new festivals added to menu for a busy year

ROCHDALIANS will be licking their lips at the news that two new food festivals are coming to town.

First up is a street food market celebrating the best of local restaurants and producers.

The Street Eat event will take place in the town hall square on Saturday and Sunday, May 27-28.

And town hall chiefs have also revealed plans to hold a Rochdale Food and Drink Festival in spring 2018.

They’re just two of a number of big events being held in the borough over the next 12 months.

Next month sees the return of Rochdale Wedding Show, with hundreds of couples planning to tie the knot heading to the town hall on Sunday, April 2, ●●The Rochdale Feel Good Festival, Literature and Ideas Festival and Beer Festival will be returning as part of a packed year of events

On Sunday, May 21 Middleton’s double Olympic gold medal-winning and world champion cyclist Joanna Rowsell Shand hosts Ride Rochdale a female-only cycling event around Blackstone Edge.

Rochdale Feel Good Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary on August 11-12, promising another bonanza of entertainment, food and culture.

The Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run takes place on Sunday, October 8. That’s followed by a week of arts and culture during the Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival, from October 17-23.

And the Rochdale Beer Festival returns for a third year on November 17-18.

Coun Janet Emsley, cabinet member for culture, health and wellbeing, said an exciting 12 months was ahead.

She added: “This programme of events is a significant commitment by the council to give residents and visitors lots of good reasons to keep coming into town, supporting our shops and businesses, as well as attracting a good deal of positive publicity for the borough.

“Rochdale really is the place to be this year with so much going on. I’ll be excited to welcome the new arrivals, Ride Rochdale, Street Eat and Rochdale Food and Drink Festival as well as the return of our hugely popular established events and of course the Rochdale Feel Good Festival, celebrating its 10th birthday this summer.

“The council will also be supporting numerous other events organised by community groups and individuals which make up an exciting calendar.”

For more information visit rochdale.gov.uk/ events.