Hale Independent Issue 181

JULY 2025 8 THIS year’s Congle- ton food and drink festival has been hailed a fantastic success by organisers after attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the town. It was the first festi- val to take place since its organisation was taken over by Congleton Town Council. The town centre came alive with flavour and festivity, offering a full day of culinary celebra- tion, live entertainment, and free activities for all ages. Visitors were able to enjoy 90 street stalls and Congleton’s Mar- ket Quarter featured a range of artisan food and drink to be enjoyed along with live entertainment. Congleton town mayor Robert Brittain said: “The festival has been an absolutely fantas- tic success. “It’s wonderful to see our town centre so vibrant and full of life, showcasing the incred- ible talent of our local producers and attracting visitors from all corners. “The town council is committed to continuing the festival’s rich legacy established 14 years by Congleton Community Projects, ensuring its positive impact on our community continues.” Rachel McCarthy, Congleton town centre and events officer, added: “I would like to person- ally thank all involved in this year’s event including the incredible exhibitors, the talented performers, supportive local businesses, and all the visitors who flocked to our town. “We’re also incredibly grateful to our ‘Fes- tival Heroes’ – the 30 dedicated volunteers who truly made this event such a success, we couldn’t have done it without them.” CINEMA EVENT WILL RETURN A real appetite for food and fun Photo credit: CHRIS BETHELL ORGANISERS of Wilmslow’s Cinema on the Carrs say the popular event will return – but not this year. The annual summer event was set to take place in early June but was cancelled over concerns about weather conditions. In a statement Wilmslow Town Council said: “Some residents have asked if a new date will be arranged. Unfortunately, we’re sorry to say that we won’t be rescheduling the event this year. “To hold an event like Cinema on the Carrs, we are required to give 90 days’ notice to secure the necessary licence. This, and thedesire to avoidpeak school holiday season, means the earliest we could host it would be September. “In previous years, when the event was held in September, lower tem- peratures led to a noticeable drop in attendance and that’s not quite the experiencewewant for our community. “We share your disappointment, but Cinema on the Carrs will return in 2026 andwe’ll make sure it’s worth thewait.” In the meantime, the council is plan- ning a series of free family picnic days in local parks during the summer holidays. PHOTO SPECIAL Counting down to Pride ORGANISERS are hard at work putting the finishing touches to this year’s Congleton Pride. The event returns on Saturday July 19, transforming the town centre into a vibrant celebration of diversity, inclu- sion, and community spirit. The free festival runs from 10am onwards, featuring live music, stalls, performances, and plenty of colour. Ronan Clayton, founder and vice chair of Congleton Pride, said: “Pride in Congleton is more than a single day – it’s a year-round commitment to inclu- sion. We’ve built strong ties with local businesses, charities, and churches. “We’ve flown rainbow flags from the Town Hall and stood firm in the face of hate. Our events bring people together from across the country, but they’re rooted in our community. As we say, we’re a little town with a big heart.” To advertise contact Robin on 07767 840274