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Play Day in Congleton Town Centre
Congleton's Play Day in the pedestrian area on August 15th was a great success and the weather was very kind to us. The day is based on the National Play Day which is taking place all over the country in August and is a
celebration of children's right to play, highlighting the importance of play
and fun in children's lives.
Pedestrian Area Activities included circus skills, giant Connex and other board games lent by Bromley Farm Community Centre. Arts and crafts activities for active minds were organised by the Electric Picture House and the
children's book swop was a huge success with over 100 books exchanging hands. The library offered Rhyme Time and more craft activities and Ruby's Fund brought their mobile soft play van. The Museum had some ancient games
for kids to play and some brilliant Knight's armour to dress up in.
This free event was organised by Congleton Community Projects and was supported by Congleton Partnership and Congleton Inclosure Trust. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped out on the day including the Congleton Rangers.
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Congleton's annual Food and Drink Festival, held on Sunday June 11th, was another huge success with thousands of visitors attending throughout the day. There were nearly 100 stalls of top quality local produce and a great range of global street food pop-ups. Local venues joined in the festive fun by putting bars and seating areas outside in the sunshine and kindly the threatened thunder storms stayed away. Live music was provided by favourites Beartown Stompers and the Mambo Jambos who returned once again by popular demand. Our local, loved magician, Nick Barnes wowed the crowds with his tricks and our local stiltwalking duo made their popular appearance once more. It was a fabulous free, fun, family day out, all made possible by a great team of volunteers and our funders: William Dean Trust, Congleton Inclosure Trust and Congleton Town Trust. Next year's festival will be on Sunday June 9th Contact jo@congletoncommunityprojects.orgwww.foodanddrinkfestival.net ![]() Congleton's Christmas Light Switch-on and Lantern Parade 2022 was held on Friday 25th November and was a great fun evening for hundreds of children and families. There were nearly 200 people in the lantern parade which left Back Street Car park, paraded down Lawton Street and through the High Street to reach the stage by the Christmas Tree for Santa and his young Ukrainian helper to turn on the lights at 6.00pm. A special feature this year were the real Cairngorm Reindeer who were visited by lots of young people and families throughout the evening. There was local entertainment from 4pm from the small stage by the tree and in the pedestrian area by Elizabeth s statue. There were a variety of Charity stalls, gift stalls and some pop-up street food in the pedestrian area and many local businesses had stalls and activities set up out the front of their premises. Santa was inundated in his grotto in the Town Hall with 250 visitors who had all written a letter to give to him in person. People queued patiently for up to 40 minutes as the evening came to a close. They also received a gift all of which was organised by Marks events who now run the Town Hall events. Thanks to everyone who came to the workshops for the Saturdays beforehand and made very creative lanterns including a gorgeous polar bear to carry in the grand lantern parade, led by the Karamba samba drummers. Thanks as always to all the volunteers whose hard work on the day and leading up to the day, made the event the success it was ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Congleton Food and Drink Festival team were delighted that, after a two year break the Festival came back with a bang thousands of people turned out to visit the town centre on the day. They enjoyed the tastes of a wide range of local produce including sweet bakery, cheese, pies, desserts and preserves and feasted on a great variety of dishes from all over the world at the many street food pop-up stalls It was a lovely day and there was plenty of opportunity to sit outside the local cafes and bars enjoying the food, drink, music, magic and sunshine.We have a great variety of venues in town now, some of whom became established because of the Congleton Food and Drink Festival. Barley Hops first had a stall at the Festival and were so successful and liked the town so much they opened a bottle Shop in Swan Bank. At this year s Festival they benefited from their new location in the centre of town which was heaving all day. Rumba in Swan Bank easily filled their Oktober benches and tables throughout the day as did the new venue Higher Ground, owners of which first came to the Food Festival trading as Levant Mediterranean food. The festival was a great opportunity for the recently refurbished Capital Walk centre. Boteco Brazilian wasted no time in setting up a street food stall out the front and brought along a wonderful Brazilian guitarist to add to the atmosphere. Owner of the new Congleton venture admitted that he was inspired by the Food and Drink Festival when it first began and had always wanted to open a venue selling street food from all over the world. And now we have such a place in town where we can enjoy street food all year round. It s a great community Street Festival made possible by a hard working and dedicated team of volunteers who make the event the great success that it is.
Get Involved Community Index a comprehensive, but not exhaustive, list of local voluntary groups and organisations in Congleton. Last printed in 2019 and now due for an update. You can take a look at it here or find hard copies in the Visitor Centre in the Town Hall, Congleton Library, The Old Saw Mill and other information points.
We hope to update the Index this year so please send us any updated information about your group that you wish to be included in the next edition Congleton Play Day is back! a school holiday town centre street event to celebrate children s right to play! Congleton Play Day is a family fun event and a great opportunity for children simply to play. Children, and adults, will be able to enjoy playing giant board games, trying out circus skills and even hoolahooping. There will be an opportunity to get creative in some arts workshops and more to be arranged. If you offer activities for kids and would like to be a part of the Play Day in August 2023 please let us know by contacting jo@congletoncommunityprojects.org. CCP work with the Electric Picture House, Bromley Farm Youth Club and Congleton Partnership to create this fun, free, annual event to celebrate and support the National Children s Play Day. ![]() ![]() ![]()
01260 270908 or email jo@congletoncommunityprojects.org |