Rio to Rochdale Festival turns town centre into party zone

Rio to Rochdale Festival

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Rochdale town centre was transformed into a summer party zone on Saturday (6 August) for the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre Rio to Rochdale Festival.

Exotic dancers and drummers put on a lively show and Brazilian ‘mocktails’ were given out with takeaway cupcakes. Children made animals masks to help get into the party mood.

Local Mum Zara Williams, who enjoyed the festival with her two young children, said: “We just came shopping and heard drums so we came over. The kids loved it. It’s nice to see the town centre busy as well. Everyone was just dancing and loving it. It was hard to peel them away.”

Town centre hairdresser Greg Couzens was taking part in the fun. He said: “Rochdale is buzzing today. It’s a fabulous atmosphere, especially in the sunshine. These special events bring the town centre to life.”

Lorenzo O’Reilly, Centre Manger at Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre said it was fantastic to celebrate summer with our extravagant Rio to Rochdale event. “We were delighted to see so many people enjoying the free Rio party last weekend,” he said. “The centre was buzzing with excitement all day as we gave away more than 350 ‘Rio Flame’ mocktails and sold out of our Rochdale Exchange cupcakes.”

As part of the shopping centre’s event, parents and their children were able to enjoy free fun at craft activities throughout the day. “It was brilliant to see so many children taking part,” said Lorenzo.

“They made their very own Brazilian masks and had their faces painted in colourful Rio-themed patterns. To get everyone in the carnival mood, we also had steel drum players and dancers, who entertained party guests with their amazing performances.

“Our shoppers also had the chance to win fantastic prizes in the Medal Winners Prize Draw at the Rio to Rochdale event,” he said. “People really interacted with our gold, silver and bronze draws and we had tons of fantastic prizes for the entrants including an iPhone from EE, designer sunglasses from Vision Express and a Boots beauty bundle.”

The Rio to Rochdale event also saw the centre and its on-site fitness centre, JD Gyms complete the ‘JD Gyms Cycle Challenge’ for Rochdale-based cause TeamEllis. Gym members took on the challenge during their spin classes between Monday, 1 August and Friday, 5 August before the wider community were invited to help complete the challenge on Saturday, 6 August.

“The team at JD Gyms Rochdale did a fantastic job cycling 5,832 miles from Rio to Rochdale and we would like to say a massive well done and thank you everyone that took part for #TeamEllis,” said Lorenzo.

“We hope all our party-goers had a brilliant time and enjoyed the Rio to Rochdale celebrations as much as we all did,” he added.