The sun shines on Rushbearing festivities

The Rushcart arriving at the square

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Last weekend saw the sun shine on Littleborough as it celebrated the biggest event in its calendar – the annual Rushbearing Festival.

The event kicked off on Friday (20 July), as a packed Littleborough Conservative Club played host to a night of folk music and merriment.

On Saturday (21 July), locals joined in a fun-packed day of festivities at Hare Hill Park; from stalls to family to morris dancing displays from the Thieving Magpies and Raving Maes, alongside the Ryburn Longsword troupe.

Saturday saw the procession, the newly-decorated Rushcart set off from the Moorcock Inn heading to Hollingworth Lake.

Children were kept well-entertained with a dog agility show, Viking living history display, circus skills workshop and two-day fun fair.

Music from a Japanese drumming group and the Littleborough Band topped off the afternoon.

The fun continued on Sunday (22 July) as the Rushcart procession began at Hollingworth Lake, with the Square hosting performances from the Curtain Theatre Group, Littleborough Band and morris dancers.

Steve Lister, Chairman of the Littleborough Events and Associations Forum, said: "The weather was brilliant.

"The Rushbearing’s been going for twenty two years now and we’ve only been rained on three times. Statistically it’s a very good weekend to book your holidays!

"It was very busy with hundreds coming out to watch and we had a wonderful time. A splendid, fun-filled weekend and definitely one of the best we’ve ever had."