Feel Good Family Picnic attracts record-breaking crowds across Rochdale borough

Wednesday, 6 August 2025 11:24

By David Murphy

Four-day event draws 17,000 visitors to parks in Heywood, Middleton, Littleborough and Rochdale

Rochdale’s Feel Good Family Picnic has wrapped up another successful run, drawing a record 17,000 visits to local parks over four days of free family entertainment.

The council-organised event, supported by Premier Kia and part of Rochdale’s Town of Culture celebrations, transformed Limefield Playing Fields, Hare Hill Park, Rochdale Town Hall Square and Queen’s Park into festival-style venues filled with circus shows, puppetry, music, dance, storytelling and carnival fun. This year’s theme of “co-operation” was reflected in over 20 attractions daily, aimed at celebrating culture, community, and shared experiences.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation, said: “We’ve seen 2,000 more people attend this year. The weather was on our side and it was lovely to see families from across Greater Manchester enjoying our outdoor spaces. The feedback has been fantastic.”

Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Janet Emsley described the atmosphere as “joyous”, praising performers, volunteers and local park friends groups for creating a “genuine sense of community spirit.”

Highlights included performances by Tit for Tat Circus, who presented two unique shows: ‘Now I become D/Deaf’, a visual piece exploring hearing loss, identity and humour, and ‘A Knight Away’, a slapstick adventure with a hapless knight duo. Also drawing crowds was ‘Stop Toi’, a high-energy musical act with juggling and jazz, and Cirque Inextremiste’s ‘Damoclès’, which explored trust and risk through physical theatre.

Rochdale’s M6 Theatre performed its play ‘The Street Where I Live’, while Frolicked Outdoor Theatre presented a light-hearted puppet show, ‘The Alchemist’. Meanwhile, local and international performers from Global Grooves led daily carnival processions through each park.

New to this year’s event was a special Teenage Market, giving young traders and performers a platform to showcase their talents. Local arts organisation Cartwheel Arts ran craft sessions using upcycled materials, reflecting the council’s environmental commitments.

Skylight Circus Arts wowed the crowds with aerial acts, stilt-walking and interactive circus skills workshops, while Thingumajig Theatre and ‘Hope the Hedgehog’, a giant puppet made from recycled materials, proved popular with younger visitors.

Tea Club duo Trixie and Tilly entertained with vintage music and cups of tea, while Flat Cap Brass brought their fun brass covers of pop classics to the stage.

In line with Rochdale Borough Council’s sustainability goals, the event included eco-friendly stalls promoting energy saving, water efficiency, upcycling and climate awareness.

Premier Kia showcased their electric vehicle range at each site, while staff from Your Trust ran inclusive sports and fitness activities.

The Feel Good Family Picnic is part of Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2025-26, which includes a wider programme of exhibitions, performances and festivals celebrating the borough’s creativity and heritage. The event was funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Greater Manchester Combined Authority in partnership with arts consortium Without Walls.