Festival team hopes for return triumph
ORGANISERS are hoping for a spectacular return to the town for Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival on Sunday, June 26.
The event, organised by BASCO – Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival Organisation – will start with a procession through the town, leading to a fair in Moorlands Park in Bacup.
This will be the first carnival since 2019 because the pandemic cancelled plans for the last two years and organisers are looking forward to a packed procession, fantastic fair with lots of local stalls and funfair rides and a busy stage full of performers.
Grants have been approved and the committee has held a number of fundraisers to facilitate the event.
This means that, despite an increase in costs since the last carnival, the event will go ahead.
Chairman of BASCO Catherine Smyth said: “We have a small but dedicated committee, that has continued to meet throughout the pandemic.
“The event also has support from people all over Bacup, Stacksteads, Rossendale and the surrounding areas. 2022 Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival is on track to be one of the best ever.”
Already four schools have applied to join the procession along with float entries from charities and businesses, musicians, the popular Chinese Lions and much more.
Catherine said: “Any procession entries from schools or youth organisations that follow the carnival theme of dinosaurs, will share a grant of £1,500 that will be distributed after the event
“We will be hearing from a lively jazz band Blowjangles, sponsored by Spar, and Rossendale Drum Majorettes and like many parade entries they will be in the procession and also on the stage in the park.”
Once again greatgrandmother Dorothy Salt will be dancing to raise money for the Bacup Committee of Cancer Research UK, and there will be performances by Britannia Coconutters, Dansworks, Fusion Dance and Fitness, AZ Kabile, and X-rays Theatre Group.
“We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has signed up to be in the procession, on the stage and having a stall in the park, and a big thanks to the generous businesses who have donated money towards the event and vouchers for our grand prize draw,” added Catherine.
“On the day, we have a large number of carnival makers without whose help the event would not be the huge success it is.
“Anyone who is interested in getting involved, please email info@basco. org.uk.”