Colne Food Festival Downpours Failed to Dampen Spirits
COLNE’s Food Festival and Festive Event was beset by truly dreadful weather last Saturday. However, Colners merely donned more waterproof clothing and crowds took part in both the torch lit parade led by Father Christmas before enjoying the service at St. Bartholomew’s, the entertainment in the Precinct and finally, the day’s firework culmination.
Although the gusts of wind were so fierce, a couple of the food stalls lining Albert Road actually blew away, the Food Festival still attracted a great many gastronomic shoppers to the town. The heavily decorated German Weihnachtsmarkt from Colne’s twin town in Marl, Germany, had perpetual queues and the visitors did a brisk trade in sausage, cakes, biscuits and Glühwein.
Colne Town Council Events Committee Chairman and founder of the Colne Food Festival, Cllr. Ash Sutcliffe said: “I don’t think I have ever been wetter, but people were still smiling and many shoppers and traders told me that they appreciated all the entertainment we laid on. As usual, we had lots of free things for families and it was great to see lots of children with their faces painted, clutching an animal balloon and dashing off for a donkey ride.”
Colne’s best dressed festive window competition, judged by local artist, Alison Telfer, was won by No. 62 with MHD coming second.
Darwen Brass Band, Pendle Jazzmen, the Lancashire Wallopers and singing duo Carmella Highwater provided the sound track for the daylight hours, while Pendle Youth Orchestra played carols in the Precinct in the evening. The carols singing was led by Andrea Monk and families gamely sang along while hail and heavy rain fell relentlessly.
Kim Griffiths commented on Facebook: “Lovely evening at Colne Food Festival and Christmas light up, especially the torch lit procession, carols in the church and the fireworks.” And Lynn Richmond wrote: “Wet, but wonderful! Braved it twice with my granddaughter, Lydia – once during a break in the rain mid-afternoon, and again in the evening. Magic and well worth the soaking!”
It was a successful day for local good causes, with Colne in Bloom raising almost £400 from its cake stall in The Market and Lidgett & Beyond netting £800 from its sale of calendars and Tracey Bolton’s cupcakes from its gazebo by the former Health Centre.
Once the congregation from St Bartholomew’s joined the expectant crowd in the Precinct, Helen Green’s dancers took to the stage formed by a Little’s Transport Truck and performed with gusto, despite the cold and wet. As is now traditional for Colne’s light switch on, fireworks finished the day’s festivities, this time launched from the roof of The Union Hotel.
