Festival fun for all the family

Flashback .... The Day Fruits thrilled youngsters at last year’s Festival

TWO days of free family fun will take over the town centre with the arrival of Festival Oldham.

The bank holiday weekend treat takes place on Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 4pm, featuring children’s shows, international street theatre and live music as part of the annual celebration of art and entertainment.

It starts with a green day of themed activities to help launch Bloom and Grow — Oldham’s entry into the North-West in Bloom competition.

Youngsters can join Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy, from the hit CBeebies show “In The Night Garden” for fun story-telling sessions in a children’s theatre big top on High Street.

Budding young gardeners can get their hands dirty by potting plants with the help of the parks team and create colourful butterflies and flowers with Oldham Play Action Group.

Gormless gardener Pete Moss and a giant Victorian flower seller will put on street theatre entertainment, with The Courgettes cooking up some fresh live music.

On Sunday there’s a packed day of children’s shows and fund-raising fun.

It starts with a Barnardo’s Big Toddle, the UK’s biggest charity event for the under-fives, around the town centre from noon. Register in advance at www.bigtoddle.co.uk or on the day from 11.15am.

In the children’s theatre, Louis Pearl: The Amazing Bubble Man brings together art, magic, fun and science, while a classic fairytale is given a modern-day twist with the Rapunzel and the Tower of Doom puppet show.

Children can explore the exciting Portable Pixel Playground, which includes an interactive musical bouncy castle and a 3D sandpit.

There will also be fun art and craft activities throughout the day, plus more street entertainment.

All the free events are centred outside Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre. For more details call 0161 770 3070, or www.oldham.gov.uk/festival