Community turns out for third Halloween Festival

The spook-tacular Whitefield Halloween Festival took place on Sunday 27 October in Hamilton Road Park attended by Mayor of Bury, Cllr Sharon Briggs. 

Now in its third year, the festival is a partnership event organised jointly by Bury Council and Whitefield Business Group as well as GM Police and GM Fire and Rescue Service as part of their ‘Operation Treacle’ campaign. 

A Medieval storyteller had children laughing with joy, The Pumpkin lady held master classes on creative carving, and local Bury brewery Outstanding Beers presented the festival’s very own award winning beer. 

Also at the event was Medieval Surgeon with a vast array of implements demonstrating how they cured ailments in those days, sword and shield making, pumpkin carving, face painting, gory tattoos, woodland crafts, Lancashire Hawks and Owls, Zoolab’s creepy creatures, South Lancs Bat Group, quality themed craft stalls and some of the region’s award-winning gourmet street food. 

Councillor Jane Lewis, cabinet member for leisure, tourism and culture, said:“Whitefield Halloween Festival is a great example of what can be achieved when our communities come together to achieve results and build on what their town has to offer.”

John Slattery, treasurer of Whitefield Business Group, said: “We're proud to be part of this amazing community event which really does help to put Whitefield on the map. The feedback we hear from visitors reaffirms how  these festivities do have a popular impact on our local economy and community by bringing people together.” 

Ruth Shedwick, event organiser at Bury Council, said: “I’d like to thank our partners and volunteers for helping make this event happen, McDonalds for litter-picking throughout the day, and a special ‘thank you’ must go to Nationwide Marquee Hire who provided a large marquee. This was a most valued edition to this year’s event and helped ensure we were under cover whatever the weather.” 

Alex Stacey, chairman of Whitefield Business Group, said: “The Whitefield Halloween Festival is an amazing event that draws great support from the public and shows how a community can come together. The focus of the festival is to support Operation Treacle, a police and fire brigade campaign to curb seasonal anti-social behaviour. It is also about having fun and once again was a great success.”

More information about the festival is available by visiting http://www.halloweenfest.org.uk/ or following @HalloweenFestNW on Twitter. 

ENDS

Press release issued: 30 October 2013.