A feast of festive fun
l Picture special on Xmas events
IT was a huge weekend of festive fun with cracking Christmas events in Bacup, Haslingden and Helmshore.
Hundreds of people flocked to Bacup for Saturday’s Christmas festival with activities centred around the market and Irwell Terrace.
Alan Boon, of organisers Bacup Now, said businesses enjoyed a bumper day.
He said: “The market was absolutely buzzing. The barista and wine bar were open all day. We got two cabins for Santa’s Grotto and the kids absolutely loved it.
“We had some good music on the terrace and Stacksteads Brass Band were there.”
Revellers at Haslingden’s Christmas market and lights big switch-on on Friday evening were undeterred by the bad weather.
Highlights included crafts from Churches Together in the library and entertainment by Haslingden Primary School, and The Grinch was welcomed for the switch-on, organised by Haslingden Library. Festivities were on all day on Haslingden Market, which stayed open until 8pm with extra stalls.
A message on the Facebook Haslingden Christmas Market page thanked all the stall holders, food vendors and everybody that braved the “horrendous” weather.
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum’s Christmas fair saw entertainment including Irish dancing, the Valley Hoopers, circus skills, Rossendale Ukulele Group and Helmshore Primary School’s children’s choir, as well as an appearance from Santa himself.
Laura Gill, chairman of The Friends of Helmshore Textile Museum, said it was a “great” event attended by around 1,000 people.
Laura said the event gives an ideal chance to showcase the museum’s treasures alongside the festive theme, adding: “The stallholders were really happy and it was busy throughout the day.”
St Paul’s Church in Ramsbottom is holding a Christmas Tree Festival throughout December, featuring festive displays provided by local firms and organisations.
The church will be open on Saturday mornings from 10am and Sunday afternoons from 1pm up to Saturday, December 21, and admission is free.
Refreshments will be on sale, and both weekends prior to December 21 will also feature stalls including Christmas cards, fashion jewellery, books and DVDs.