FREE Community Event
ORGANISED BY
Festival of Blackrod 2026 Saturday 12th September 12pm til 10pm
SUPPORTED BY
Blackrod Cricket Club: Vicarage Road, Blackrod BL6 5DD
A fun-packed day for all – and best of all, it’s ALL FREE! Festival of Blackrod
Tots & Kids Toddler’s Soft Play Activities: (0 – 5years).
12PM - 4PM
Festival of Blackrod
Inflatables & toddler rides
Festival of Blackrod
On Stage 12PM - 9.45PM
They’re big, they’re bright, and they’re bouncy!
Festival of Blackrod
Dog Show All makes and models of pooches welcome!
STARTS 1PM til 3.30PM Registration 12pm-12.45pm
12PM - 4PM
FREE ENTRY
LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY! A jam-packed day of live music and entertainment to suit young and old alike.
Join us at this year’s Festival of Blackrod for a day full of excitement, entertainment, and community spirit. With live music, activities, and competitions for all ages, there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy!
Torr’s Exotics Petting Zoo Festival of Blackrod
best part? It’s completely FREE!
And the
Festival of Blackrod
Tots & Kids
Why not bring 12PM - 4PMyour own Picnic? Toddler’s Soft Play Activities: (0 –
Zorbing Arena!
5years).
Or you can take advantage of the Food & Drink vendors we have on offer – Taka Taka Mam, Carr’s Pasties, Burgers & Hotdogs, Coffee and Icecream Van.
Festival of Blackrod
Creative Kids Corner And the best part? It’s completely FREE!
Unfortunately, no alcohol can be brought into the Festival and must be purchased on-site.
Come and test your skill and balance and see how you do in the Zorb arena... 42
THIS COMPETITION WILL BE SPONSORED
WIN A NINTENDO SWITCH 2 IN
‘FIND THE MAYOR’ OUR
COMPETITION Entry Forms will be available on the day at the festival entrance. 41
NB. Some elements of the festival are subject to change
WELCOME TO B Blackrod Town Council First Aid
SCAN
TO VIEW FREE FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
Tent Toddlers Blackrod Community
Soft Play
Groups & Retail Stalls
Creativ
Corner
Exotic Petting Zoo
Live Music & Entertainment
Dog Show Registration
Inflatab
for all A
LACKROD
Entrance & Exit Toilets
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Ages
Toddler Rides
Food & Drink
Horwich and Blackrod Community Events CIC extends heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors and supporters for helping make this event a wonderful success. We would especially like to thank our main sponsor Blackrod Town Council for their support and the Blackrod Cricket Club for hosting another fantastic event for the community. We extend our sincere thanks to the many local businesses, groups and organisations who have generously supported this wonderful community event – both financially and by offering their time and support. Your support provides essential funding that helps keep this event free for everyone to enjoy, especially during these challenging times. Thank you for helping us bring the community together.
FESTIVAL OF Blackrod 2026 We’re back – bringing fabulous fun for all the community once again! Horwich & Blackrod Community Events is thrilled to invite you to this year’s fantastic FREE community festival, a fun-filled day celebrating everything that makes Blackrod such a special place to live, work, and play. Bring your friends, family, and neighbours along for a packed day of live entertainment from amazing local performers, inflatables and fairground rides, a toddler-friendly activity area, Exotic Pets Corner, Zorbing arena, superheroes, dog show, and displays from local groups, businesses and organisations. Plus – don’t miss the tasty food stalls, or feel free to bring your own picnic and relax! It’s the perfect day out for all ages, and a great chance to connect, celebrate, and have fun as a community. Where:
Blackrod Cricket Club, Vicarage Road, BL6 5DD When: Saturday 12th September Time: 12pm – 10pm
Whatever your equipment requirements Leave the how to us.
We're proud to support Blackrod Community
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Festival of Blackrod
Tots & Kids Toddler’s Soft Play Activities: (0 – 5years).
12PM - 4PM
FREE SOFT PLAY – OPEN TO ALL Come along and enjoy a fun-filled session designed especially for young children! Let the little ones explore and play with: Soft Play equipment | Hoppers | Didi Cars A great opportunity for children to burn off some energy, make new friends, and enjoy safe, supervised play. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. No booking required – just turn up and join the fun!.
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Festival of Blackrod
Inflatables & toddler rides They’re big, they’re bright, and they’re bouncy!
12PM - 4PM
FREE FUN FOR ALL AGES! Get ready for a fantastic time with a selection of inflatables and toddler rides to keep everyone entertained – from the tiniest tots to energetic older kids! Bouncy castles, obstacle courses, and more for all ages | Smaller, gentle rides specially designed for toddlers | Safe, supervised fun that everyone can enjoy. It’s the perfect way for children to burn off all that extra energy while having an unforgettable day of excitement and laughter. Don’t miss out – come bounce, climb, and slide your way to fun!
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Festival of Blackrod
Torr’s Exotics Petting Zoo And the best part? It’s completely FREE!
12PM - 4PM
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TORR’S EXOTICS – EXHIBITING AT THE FESTIVAL OF BLACKROD! Come and meet our amazing Torr’s exotic animals up close! Join us for fun, hands-on encounters and learn all about these fascinating creatures from their expert team. A perfect experience for all ages – interactive, educational, and completely unforgettable! Don’t miss your chance to explore the wild side at the Festival of Blackrod! Backed by a knowledgeable and experienced team, we prioritise the well-being of our animals while delivering unforgettable, hands-on experiences. Whether you’re meeting one of our animals for the first time or deepening your understanding of exotic species, you’ll leave with a stronger connection to the natural world. At Torr’s Exotics, learning is always interactive, inspiring, and unforgettable.
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Festival of Blackrod
Face Painting Creative 12PM - 4PM Corner Kids Festival of Blackrod
And the best part? It’s completely FREE!
And the best part? It’s completely FREE!
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Children love having their faces painted because it lets them use their imagination and become something fun or magical, like a superhero, animal, or princess for the day.
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Festival of Blackrod
Creative Kids Corner And the best part? It’s completely FREE!
Come and let your kids express their creativity through drawing. Drawing helps nurture imagination, builds confidence, and helps them communicate thoughts and emotions they may not yet have supports cognitive development, words for. It and problem-solving, better still, they have lots of fun whilst doing it.
Festival of Blackrod
Tots & Kids Why not bring - PM your12PM own Picnic? 4 Toddler’s Soft Play Activities:(0 – 5years).
Or you can take advantage of the Food & Drink vendors we have on offer – Greek food, burger van with loaded hot dogs, Coffee and Ice-cream Vans Unfortunately, no alcohol can be brought into the Festival and must be purchased on-site.
Bring your own chairs! We only have a limited amount of chairs for this year’s Festival of Blackrod, so we kindly encourage all visitors to bring their own for comfort and to enjoy the day.
THIS COMPETITION IS SPONSORED BY
WIN A NINTENDO SWITCH 2 IN OUR
‘FIND THE MAYOR’
COMPETITION
SPONSORED BY
Entry Forms will be available on the day at the festival entrance. 27
Festival of Blackrod
On Stage 12PM - 9.45PM
LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY!
A jam-packed day of live music and enter tainment to suit young and old alike.
Festival of Blackrod
On Stage Live music all day! A jam-packed day of live music and entertainment to suit all tastes. ARTISTS ON STAGE
TIME
Impact Dance School
12.15pm
Blackrod Community Choir
1.00 pm
Crimson Tide
1.50 pm
Ian Adams - Freddie Mercury Tribute
2.45 pm
The Sonnett
3.45 pm
Shimmy Shakers
4.35 pm
Tom Byrom
5.20 pm
Sam Fields
6.15 pm
MWM Band
7.15 pm
DJ and Compere Phil Grimshaw
8.45 pm
Music Finishes
9.45 pm
FESTIVAL FINISHES
10.00 pm
The stage will be compered by the fabulous DJ Phil Grimshaw... he is sure to keep you informed and entertained throughout the line up! He will then end the night doing a set for us so get those dancing shoes on!
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Festival of Blackrod
Dog Show All makes and models of pooches welcome!
STARTS 1PM til 3.30PM Registration 12pm-12.45pm
FREE ENTRY
DOG SHOW CATEGORIES ƒ Temptation Alley ƒ Best sausage/ ball catcher ƒ Best trick
ƒ Handsomest Hound (Males)
ƒ Musical Sits
ƒ Prettiest Pooch (Females) ƒ ƒ Best in Show
Run by volunteers on behalf of:
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LEFT WALL OUTSIDE PANEL
CLICK ON ADVERT TO VISIT WEBSITE
Welcome to Blackrod Blackrod is a small town positioned 3.9 miles northeast of Wigan and 6.6 miles west of Bolton. It is situated within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester and nestled in the historic County of Lancashire. Built on high ground upon an ancient Roman road and commanding fine views of the surrounding countryside, it was once a major coal mining centre, employing over 700 miners. Comprising of 9 Councillors across the North, Central and South wards and administered by the Town Clerk, the Town Council is at the most local level of government. Working for and on behalf of the residents of Blackrod, the Town Council hosts and supports local events and initiatives and provides grant funding to local groups and organisations. It is also a consultee on planning applications, which feeds into Bolton Council decision making. Whilst only a small town with a limited number of amenities, there is 53 ensures that the town thrives. a strong sense of community which
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THE MAYOR’S CHARITIES! As the Mayor of Blackrod, my chosen organisations this year are Max's Trust and Talking Football CIC.
My first charity is very close to my heart. With my son Reuben's permission, I'd like to share a little of our family's story. Reuben was born with Anorectal Malformation (ARM) and underwent his first surgery at just 24 hours old, followed by two more operations during his first year. Since then, we've faced many years of hospital appointments and challenges. Throughout that journey, Max's Trust has been there for us, providing support, guidance and bringing together families who truly understand what we're going through. It has also given Reuben the chance to meet other children with ARM, helping him realise he's not alone. That's why I'm proud to support Max's Trust.
My second organisation is Talking Football. Although I haven't experienced these challenges personally, I've seen the devastating impact that poor mental health and suicide can have on individuals and families. I wanted to support a local cause that encourages men to talk openly, seek help and know they are never alone. Founded in 2022, Talking Football has grown from just six members into an organisation supporting hundreds of people across our community, providing a safe place for men to talk, connect and support one another. I'm proud to support the incredible work they do.
Charity collection tins will be located at the Blackrod Town Council Gazebo.
Thank you for your support!
Blackrod has so much to offer from sports and recreational activities, musical and creative talent, charities, community groups and organisations. ...and let’s not forget we are surrounded by beautiful countryside with the West Pennine Moors and Rivington on our door step.
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Festival of Blackrod Exhibition Displays The following pages perfectly illustrate how diverse and exciting Blackrod is when it comes to culture, heritage and community activities.
was discovered in what we all know as Castle Croft during a archaeological dig.
Blackrod has a history spanning over 4,000 years, around the same time Stonehenge was built with the discovery of a Stone Age Axe here in black in 2000BC! Our villages name has evolved over the past 700 years – it is thought to be derived from two old English words “bleac” and “rod” the former meaning black or bleak and the latter a clearing or Holy Rood (the Cross of Christ). The first mention of the town dates to 1189, when it was recorded as Blacherode, in 1220 it became ‘Blacrode. Around 80AD, a Roman Agricola Fort was discovered in Blackrod alongside an ancient Roman road. The location of this fort 57
In the first ever Blackrod Census, carried out in 1801 the population was a mere 1,623. The largest growth in the villages population was between 1961 (3,606) - 2001 (5,300), seeing a 47% rise. By 2021 the villages population had grown to 5,345. The Festival of Blackrod’s History and Community Groups exhibition displays will be situated inside the cricket Pavilion .
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A PART OF OUR FESTIVAL NEXT YEAR? EMAIL US FOR MORE INFORMATION IN JAN 2027
Follow us on Facebook for more info on all our events! horwich.blackrod.events @gmail.com
Bringing free events to unite our community all year round