LEAF cancels major events in Littleborough calendar

Photo: Rochdale Online

Littleborough Rushbearing 2018

The Littleborough Events and Associations Forum (LEAF) has officially cancelled two of its biggest events in the Littleborough calendar this year.

Both the annual Littleborough Food & Drink Festival, which typically takes place in June, and the Rushbearing Festival, which takes place in July, have been cancelled in the wake of the ongoing pandemic for 2021.

Like many events, both festivals were cancelled last year with the arrival of Covid-19 in the UK and the subsequent lockdowns.

Chairman of LEAF, Simon France said: “It will come to no surprise to anyone but we will not be able to go ahead with the events this year.  

“Our priority is to keep people safe and to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. We hope everyone keeps themselves well and we look forward to bringing back these popular events in 2022.”

The Food & Drink Festival has taken place since 2015, in partnership with the Pennines Business & Tourism Forum, whilst the Rushbearing Festival is organised in conjunction with Oakenhoof Folk Arts.

Rushbearing originated when the floors of most buildings – even churches – were earthen, and the commonest floor covering was rushes. Parish churches had their rushes provided by local parishioners, who cut them and carried them in procession to the church.

In the South Pennine districts, it became traditional for the rushes to be transported to the Parish church on decorated carts.

Littleborough Rushbearing was revived in 1991 by Rochdale Morris and Keith Parry and Littleborough Action Group.