College to help spread good feeling at festival
HOPWOOD Hall College is supporting next month’s Rochdale Feel Good Festival.
The multi awardwinning further education provider is sponsoring the Family Zone at the summer festival for the first time.
Staff and students from the college will be adding to the activities on offer with giant games and competitions.
They will also bring dressing up costumes for children to try and offer youngsters the chance to meet Marvin, their meerkat!
Staff will provide information about Hopwood Hall’s vocational and further education courses as well as promoting their other services open to the public, including their Riverside Restaurant, gym, salon and theatre.
The college is also offering free parking to festival goers in their conveniently located St Mary’s Gate car park.
Julia Heap, principal and CEO, said: “Rochdale Feel Good Festival is such a big event for the borough and we really wanted to be part of it.
“Sponsoring the Family Zone is a perfect fit for us, our staff and students love getting out into the local community and events like this are a great way of showcasing the college whilst helping visitors have a lot of fun during what I’m sure will be another wonderful day.”
Rochdale Council say there will be ‘more than ever for children’ at this year’s festival with the Family Zone seeing the Esplanade and gardens in front of Rochdale Town Hall transformed into a Festival Square for youngsters and their families between 11am and 5pm. It is part of the free event headlined by indie/rock band The Coral on Saturday, August 10.
Activities and shows will include The Bewonderment Machine - a cycle-powered carousel for small children - and a Virtual Reality Playground where visitors can put on a headset, jump on a swing and be transported inside a virtual reality ride.
Other highlights include the aerial ‘Dip’ trampoline show, featuring breath-taking air twisting tricks, music and comedy, Bees! The Colony – a multi-sensory experience where participants can wander amongst a honeyperfumed bee colony and The Playground of Illusions where visitors will be able to play with interactive giant toys.
Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture at Rochdale Borough Council said: “I’m really pleased to see Hopwood Hall College getting behind the festival again and our Family Zone will have lots of amazing activities to keep the kids busy and parents are welcome to join in too.
“I know the college’s fun day earlier this year was a huge success so I’m looking forward them being part of this fantastic festival.”