Christmas events are on the way
DANIELLE ROPER Children from local schools will hang their hand made decorations on the Community Tree and sing carols with the band. Rossendale Rotary will also make their Christmas Sleigh available for Father Christmas and his helpers to visit.
The Mayor of Rossendale, Coun Granville Morris, will turn on the lights at 4.30pm and the Stacksteads Band will play from 5pm.
The Bacup Natural History Society will open their doors from 3pm to 7pm and will serve mince pies and mulled wine. There will be a lucky dip for children and a wine and chocolate raffle for adults.
Saturday, December 10 is Christmas Fun Day at Rawtenstall market from 10am to 3pm, with a performance from the Water School choir, balloon modelling, henna and glitter tattoos, owls (weather permitting) and a chance to make your own bird feeder. There will also be a free glass of mulled wine and a mince pie as well music from Peter Sweetmore.
Haslingden market hosts its Christmas Wonderland market on Saturday, December 17 from 6 to 9pm and a Sunday Market on December 18 from 11am to 3pm.
There will be Christmas food, cupcakes, a beer stall and a Christmas tree, with organisers hoping Santa will visit on the Sunday. There will also be face painters, a Hook A Duck game and a lucky dip.
Saturday includes a children’s bauble decoration competition, with entrants invited to bring their decorated baubles for judging on the Sunday. Victoria Bracewell, trader and one of the organisers, said: “We want it to be an event with something for everyone.” Book stalls for £10 at haslingdenma rket@ gmail.com. ●● Mayor Coun Madeline De Souza with badge design winners Lucy Williams, left, and Hazel Murphy Wisker turns on the Riverside Christmas lights HUNDREDS of Whitworth residents flocked to the Riverside Arts Centre on Sunday for the town’s biggest Christmas light switch-on in memory.
With a record turnout of more than 500 people, the event included festive songs from the Whitworth Vale and Healey Youth Brass Band and Whitworth’s Community Choir. Father Christmas too made a special appearance, handing out sweets to the children from his grotto.
Mulled wine and mince pies were served as photographer Howard Wilkinson captured portraits of happy families.
The Mayor of Whitworth, Coun Madeline De Souza, welcomed guests including the winners of the school badge design competition, seven-year old Lucy Williams from Tonacliffe Primary and 10-year-old Hazel Murphy Wisker from St Bartholomew’s Primary, who won the opportunity to switch on the lights.