Visitors to Stalybridge Street Fest were treated to a sneak preview of the spectacular delights in store for the town’s Weave arts festival next month.

Charlie, a giant mill boy puppet, greeted Street Fest visitors in Armentieres Square to help raise awareness of the upcoming Weave event.

Weave is a free family-friendly event - involving carnival performances, brass band music, dancing, street theatre and creative workshops - which is coming to Stalybridge on Saturday, September 9.

The arts festival is part of Historic England’s collaborative ‘Hi! Street Fest’ project to celebrate high streets and the people who love and look after them. Stalybridge is one of just six towns nationally chosen to host an event.

Weave will be delivered in partnership with Tameside Council, the Bridge Cultural Consortium, Mossley-based arts organisation Global Grooves and outdoor arts company Emergency Exit Arts (EEA).

As part of Weave, Charlie the mill boy and another puppet friend, will be greeting Farrah the fox who will be zooming into Stalybridge on a scooter as she makes her journey across the country to all the Hi! Street Fest events. 

The trio will provide pop-up performances through the day, which will be part of a wider cultural weekend of activity including the monthly Street Fest food festival on the Friday night and Heritage Open Days, which will involve the library, Astley Cheetham Art Gallery and churches being open to the public.

Weave, which is funded externally by Historic England, Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, will build on Stalybridge’s Greater Manchester Town of Culture legacy as well as the High Street Heritage Action Zone.