Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival announces out-of-this-world theme

An out-of-this-world procession will lead the start of this year’s Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival on Sunday, June 30. It will be the 13th event organised since BASCO – Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival Organisation – relaunched the traditional fair and this year’s theme is space.

Last year BASCO won the Bacup Business Association Best Leisure and Tourism category and was a finalist in the Visit Rossendale at Rossendale Business Awards. For the first time in decades, this year The Accrington Pipe Band will be in attendance and so the carnival parade will definitely be heard before it is seen.

Parade Organiser and BASCO trustee Jackie Oakes said: “I would like to thank all of the groups who are working hard on their parade entries. We know how much work goes into each one.

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“A big shout out to St Joseph’s RC School in Stacksteads who are in the procession along with many other groups including Dansworks, Fusion, X-Rays, Bacup Royal Court and Rainbows and Brownies, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.”

Northern Dragons are again providing a Chinese Lion, this year sponsored by Winter Solicitors and there will be a space-themed stilt walker. BASCO members organised a fundraising quiz and the sale of raffle tickets to support this year’s event. Event sponsorship was received from Rossendale Borough Council and Reaps Moss Community Benefit Fund.

The parade leaves Broadclough Mill in Burnley Road, Bacup, at 11am and a rolling road closure will be in place as the parade proceeds on the Market Street, Park Road and then New Line. The fair will be based on the football field at Moorlands Park and the Mayor Councillor Judith Driver will officially open the event about 12.30pm.

This year, for the first time, there will be a dog show organised by Pups and Pooches in the Sunken Garden – entries open for registration from 11am and the show begins at 1pm. The field will be packed with stalls supporting local businesses and community groups, Rossendale Drum Majorettes will have a stocks, Bacup Borough will be inviting people to beat the goalie and there will be rides, inflatables and attractions.

Free entertainment will be on stage all afternoon including dancers, majorettes, theatre groups and belly dancers. A Capture the Carnival photography competition, sponsored by Danielle and Darren’s Childminding Service, is running again with people asked to photograph the event and send their best three photos to info@basco.org.uk.

Best picture wins £50 and two runners up receive £25 each.

Jackie said: “The carnival committee is small and the event we organise is huge. From selling raffle tickets in advance, to putting up posters and banners, arranging the procession entries, to helping set up the stalls in the park on the morning of the carnival.

“On the day we have a large number of carnival makers who devote their own time each year to help make the event a success. Without all of these volunteers, the event would not be such a success.

"Please come along on the day, line the streets, enjoy the parade and then follow the crowd into the park and above all else, enjoy yourself.”