Festival celebrates 15th year at a new venue

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A reading taking place at the festival

The annual Heywood Festival of Healing, Light and Learning has marked his 15th year – in a new venue.

The festival which draws people in from near and far has always been held at the Heywood Civic Centre but this year the organisers decided to move it to the new Holistic Pathways Centre.

The Centre, based in the former Salvation Army building on Bridge Street was taken on by Heywood stalwart Shelia Hill last year – the centre’s future was blighted by a devastating fire but Mrs Hill and her team of helpers have worked long, hard hours to make sure the main hall of the building was ready for this weekend’s event.

Up until now the centre was used for services but the festival is the first event to take place at the centre – a double celebration for Mrs Hill.

She said: “This is our first event. We were here until 2 o’clock yesterday morning cleaning and making the finishing touches.

“I am so pleased, it is just brilliant and beyond our wildest dreams. People are saying they can’t believe we have done it.”

Stalls at the festival include Aura photography, Heavenly Healing and Crystals. Private readings were also taking place.   

Speaking about the festival, Mrs Hill, said: “We have had quite a few hundred through the doors, it has been very busy. We have got some new stalls this time too.

“The premises are large enough to do it in and hopefully we will have many more to come.

“We have had such a good reception from every one; they are really thrilled with it.”

Mrs Hill added: “We simply couldn’t afford to hold the festival at the Civic Centre because all the money we have we have been putting into here. There is still a lot of work to be done and we still need money for things like the floor but we are getting there.”

The festival runs until 5pm today. Tomorrow (Sunday 30 January 2011) the event will run from 10am until 5pm.