Littleborough set for Rushbearing

The Rushbearing festival takes place this weekend.

This weekend sees Littleborough’s annual Rushbearing festival celebrate its 18th year since it was revived in 1991.

The event centres on the procession of a decorated Rushcart, parading through Littleborough with dance stops at pubs. The Rushcart finally enters the Town Square led by a local brass band and escorted by local dignitaries.

This year's Rushcart procession starts at 10.30am from the King William IV pub on Higher Shore Road tomorrow (Saturday 18 July). The cart is stopping at Caldermoor, Harehill Park, Littleborough Town Square around lunchtime, and then up to Hollingworth Lake at approximately 3pm, with events coming to a close at 4pm.

There will also be various attractions in Harehill Park throughout the day, including Vikings in living history and combat displays, fairground rides and stalls run by local charity organisations.

The Rushbearing tradition originates from the 10th century when rushes would be taken to church on its Saints Day to cover the earth floor. Parish churches had rushes provided by local parishioners, who carried them in procession to the church; in the South Pennine district it became traditional for the rushes to be transported to the Parish church on carts.