Feel Good Festival cooks up a treat

Feel Good Festival 2009

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Hundreds of people flocked to The Butts in Rochdale town centre today (Friday 10 July) for the first day of the Rochdale Feel Good Festival.

The highlight of the day came in the food tent, where celebrity chef Aazam Ahmad was cooking up some treats with the help of local school children.

Falinge Park High School pupils Viqas Bhatti, 15, and Nazam Suleman, 15, who designed Mr Ahmad's chef's outfit, joined the chef on stage to help prepare a tuna dish for their classmates.

Mr Ahmad's demonstrations continued throughout the day, while outside on The Butts there were stalls to suit all tastes. From ostrich burgers to cheese and wine, there is something for everyone at the food market throughout the weekend. 

Visitors could relax courtesy of holistic therapy treatments from True Serenity, based on Bury Road, while youngsters could enjoy face painting from the hair and beauty department at Hopwood Hall College. And if all the excitement gets too much, the Polish beer tent is worth a visit.

Many people gathered in the afternoon to enjoy a Skylight Circus performance, with spectacular trapeze and tightrope acts from the local circus arts group.

The Festival continues tomorrow. Celebrity chefs Aldo Zilli and Aazam Ahmad will be continuing their live cooking demonstrations, while there will be music at eight different venues from midday to midnight. Tomorrow's highlight will come on the outdoor stage in the Town Hall Square with headliners ‘The Bluetones’.

A text message feedback service has been set up allowing visitors to the festival the chance to let the organisers know what they think of the event.

Chairman of Rochdale Township Committee, Councillor Andrew Abbott explained the thought process behind setting up the text reply service: “We are all hoping that the event will fulfil it’s original agenda of engaging people and encouraging visitors to the town centre.”

To send your thoughts on the festival simply send your text message to 60300 and start your text with the word 'Council'.