A BRIEF HISTORY
The Stalybridge Festival was born in the nineteen seventies with the first carnival parade taking place in 1976.The idea of a Festival arose from meetings of the local Youth and Community Group, where complaints "that nothing ever happens in Stalybridge" were voiced. Following notices published in the local Salybridge Reporter, asking for people intrested in coming forward to get involved, a committee was formed, and the Stalybridge Festival was started.
Thirty years on, the Stalybridge Festival Committee continues to provide their annual Carnival for the people of Stalybridge and surrounding towns.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
In 1980 the Stalybridge Festival Committee were invited to Armentieres, Stalybridge's twin town in Northen France and we formed a strong bond of friendship with the Committee of their carnival, the Fete des Nieulles.
The International connection continues to thrive with regular annual exchange visits between our two carnival Committees. Our French counterparts visit our Carnival in June and take part in our Carnival Parade and our Carnival Queens take part in their annual fete in Armentieres held in September.
