200 Years of Hollingworth Lake

Date published: 04/10/2004

To mark the two hundredth birthday of Hollingworth Lake, thousands arrived to see The Festival of Lights Twilight Lantern Parade, on Saturday 2 October.

This creative lantern procession lit up the sky at the Visitors Centre at 6.00pm, and walked around the lake up to the Pavilion, where the Full Moon Performers gave an amazing Rhythm and Fire Show. Many schools and organisations participated in the event, including Cubs, Guides, and The Hamza Children’s Association, all of whom helped to make the enormous light sculptures.

Smithybridge Primary School with Skylight Circus fronted the parade, followed by all the children with their lanterns including large fish, seahorses and turtles that they had made during the summer. Adding to the atmosphere were the Gateway and Multi Asian Arts drumming group who were also part of the procession. The route itself was lit up by decorative lanterns hanging from trees and bushes, including floating lanterns on rafts in the lake itself.

The great display came to a halt at the Pavilion Café for the Rhythm and Fire Show from the Full Moon Performers. This was a stunning, skilled fire performance, including samba drums and percussion instruments that had the audience impressed to the very end. This performance helped to give the evening a festival feel, especially when combined with fires, lanterns and lovely decorations all around the lake that the children of Rochdale borough had made for the event.

The 200 Birthday of Hollingworth Lake was celebrated with great effort and enthusiasm from all who were involved, which was made even better with the welcomed presence of Rochdale Mayor Angela Coric. This community event is all thanks to the RMBC staff, the local community groups, schools, teachers and group leaders who have all been enthusiastic towards this project.