Lantern festival to light up Valley

ONE OF Rossendale's most magical nights - Stacksteads Lantern Festival - will this year be themed around the enchanted river.

- BY CATHERINE SMYTH

The event, on Saturday October 18, will see a parade of creative illuminated lanterns weaving their way along the riverside park path adjacent to the River Irwell.

A series of four free making sessions will be held in September and October at Globe Studios, Toll Bar Mill, Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, OL13 ONA, and these will again be led by Community Artist Ruth Evans.

As well as helping people make their lantern ideas become a reality, the sessions lead to friendships being formed and foster a love of the arts as young and old get creative together.

Stacksteads Countryside Park Group, SCPG, has organised the festival for the last eight years and obtains grant funding to keep the event and the workshops free for all.