Tour de France countdown party

Just one week to go until the Tour de France comes through Rochdale Borough and Toad Lane will be celebrating all things cycling!

On Saturday 28 June, with just one week to go until the Tour de France comes through Rochdale Borough, Toad Lane will be celebrating all things cycling.

Families and cycle enthusiasts are invited to attend a Tour de France Countdown Party hosted by Rochdale Pioneers Museum, The Baum and St Mary in the Baum Church.

The event features Tour de France themed guest ales at The Baum and a cycle challenge at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum. Also at the Toad Lane Museum will be the chance to play Tour de France four in a row, design a cycling jersey and make a commemorative keyring, badge or magnet to take home. Cycle enthusiasts can take a guided tour of the Museum’s cycle themed Co-operation on wheels exhibition and at 12 noon the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Carol Wardle, will be in attendance at the unveiling a cycling themed kinetic sculpture made by young people from Rochdale Youth Service/Sparth Community Centre.

Also on the day there will be the opportunity to visit Rochdale’s ‘hidden gem’, St Mary in the Baum Church, the only example of a Ninian Comper church in the Northern Province. Tea and coffee will also be served in the Church.

Museum Manager Jenny Mabbott said: “The Tour de France coming through Rochdale Borough is incredibly exciting and we wanted to do something to celebrate. We spoke to our Toad Lane neighbours and the idea for the Countdown Party was born. We would love to see lots of families and cycling enthusiast attend and have invited local cycling clubs to organise a group ride to the event."

The event will run between 11.00am and 3.00pm on Saturday 28 June.