Events in Rochdale for 18/07/2009

Littleborough Rushbearing is a full weekend event, centred around the procession of the Rushcart through the town.

Rushcart procession starts at 10:30am from King Bill , stopping at Caldermoor, Harehill Park, lunchtime, Littleborough Town Square, then up to the Lake, around 3.00pm.

There will also be various attractions in Harehill Park throughout the day, including Vikings, living History & combat displays, Fairground rides and stalls run by local charity organisations.

Rushbearing began in the 10th century when Pope Gregory decreed that rushes should be taken to church on its Saints Day to cover the earth floor for warmth. At Grassmere the rushes are still carried in procession. But in Lancashire and parts of Yorkshire the procession became more elaborate with the rushes being conveyed on decorated carts. The tradition continued in many areas until Victorian times when it was banned for encouraging ‘drunkenness and lewd behaviour’.

Littleborough Rushbearing was revived in 1991 when someone in Rochdale Morris said ‘Wouldn’t it be a good idea to have a Rushcart to celebrate our 10th anniversary?’ The project was successfully achieved with the help of Littleborough Action Group and has become an important part of Littleborough’s calendar of events.

The Littleborough Rushcart is paraded through various parts of the town with dance stops at pubs and finally enters the Square led by a local brass band and escorted by local dignitaries.

In 2008 the Festival was extended and began on Friday night with a singaround at a local pub. Saturday also included a ‘Party in the Park’ – a family fun-day with stalls and entertainment. Saturday evening’s celidh completed a busy day. Sunday’s procession takes in Hollingworth Lake Visitor’s Centre and a nearby pub, before entering the town centre for more dancing (including the ‘traditional’ dance by Littleborough’s finest).

Our summer exhibition is the Canals of the Pennines, during July and August we will have an ever changing exhibiton of work by a number of popular artisits, including Geoff Butterworth, David Ainsworth and Judith Herring - plus some new artists. The preview will be on Saturday 4th July from 2-4pm.