‘Northern Lights’ bring Christmas sparkle to Darnhill

The Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale with Father Christmas, local residents Pheobe Stagg and Chloe Webster and other young revellers at the Darnhill Christmas Festival.

More than 80 local children from Darnhill created a magical spectacle this week when they took part in a lantern procession through the surrounding estate as part of their Christmas Festival, this year themed ‘Northern Lights’.

Pupils from St Margaret’s primary school, local Guide and Brownie groups and children from the YARD after-school club were led by Father Christmas through the estate, carrying a colourful array of hand-made lanterns, lighting their way back to St Margaret’s school.

Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Keith Swift and Mayoress Susanne Etchells attended the festival to welcome Father Christmas to his grotto, while indoors, the Darnhill Festival Association worked hard to provide tombola stalls, refreshments and arts and crafts activities.

Local housing association Guinness Northern Counties provided £2,500 funding for this years festival, with additional funding from Link for Life and Heywood Township.

The children from St Margaret's made the lanterns at workshops run by artist Jean Compton for Cartwheel Arts throughout November. The children from The YARD made their own bottle lanterns with guidance from Jean.

The Guides and Brownies were dressed in costumes made by Darnhill Festival Association, who fundraise and help to organise and run festivals on the Darnhill estate.

Deborah Colligan, Guinness Northern Counties Housing Officer, said: “The children worked so hard on their lanterns and on the night they looked fantastic. The procession looked magical and everyone who has contributed to this event should be very proud.”