Todmorden town festival brings hope after events blow

The Mayor of Todmorden Coun Steph Booth and the Mayor elect Coun Tony Greenwood with Roweena Hudson and Joevanka Gregory promote the Todmorden Festival at Pollination Street.

The show, which would have been held on June 18, is a huge pull for the town and its absence would have left a gaping hole in Todmorden’s social calendar.

But to bring some cheer on what would have been show day, a ‘Todmorden Town Festival’ has been organised to bring communities together.

There promises to be plenty to enjoy on the day, with businesses across the town joining in.

There will be activities, events and stalls across a number of venues in the town, including Todmorden Town Hall, Pollination Street and Water Street.

At the Hare and Hounds pub, Burnley Road, there will fun for all the family to enjoy, including a petting zoo, an art competition and a dog show.

Some aspects of the Todmorden Agricultural Show will also go ahead, despite the cancellation of the event.

Mayor of Todmorden, Councillor Steph Booth, said: “Everybody has got involved and it is going to be fantastic.

“I was really unhappy when the show was cancelled.

“This is about community and for the community - to start putting money into the businesses and helping them to bounce back.”

While there was dissapointment following the show’s cancellation, the committee has said it will return in 2017.

Meanwhile, organisers of Todmorden Carnival have stressed the carnival is still going ahead.

They urged people to show their support after saying a number of schools pulled out of the procession.

The carnival will be held on May 28, with fairground rides from May 26.