The #TownofCulture2022 Stalybridge Street Fest, which has so quickly built a huge reputation for its incredible food and drink, will be adding an extra ingredient on Friday 10th June – the carnival is coming to town!

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Thanks to the sound of Global Grooves’ Bloco Mente samba and reggae band and the inimitable Whit Friday Brass band contest, visitors will be treated to the full carnival experience. As well as tucking into a wide range of the finest fare, people will be able to dance alongside giant puppets in true carnival style and have a go at making their own carnival-inspired arts and crafts.

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Joining the party is Aurora - a 4m (13ft) puppet inspired by the spectacular Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) which is guaranteed to bring sparkle from the skies directly to the streets of Stalybridge. nIf you’re lucky, you might also spot another bright shining star; Padmini, named after a famous Indian actress who appeared in more than 250 Bollywood films, is built to dance.

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Cllr Sangita Patel, Tameside Council’s assistant executive member with responsibility for culture, said: “Whit Friday is always a big day in Stalybridge but this carnival version of Street Fest will make it even bigger.

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“The sounds of the carnival blending with the smells of delicious food and drink are certain to combine as the recipe for an evening to remember – one in which eating and drinking are accompanied by dancing.”

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Street Fest, which takes place in Armentieres Square on the second Friday of every month (5 to 9pm), is a family feelgood gathering that has put Stalybridge firmly on Greater Manchester’s culinary and cultural map since it was launched last summer.

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Featuring traders supplying food and drink to suit all tastes, and against a background of live entertainment organised as part of Stalybridge’s status as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, Street Fest is a unique social event which appeals to all ages by offering a continental-style street market event right in the picturesque and historic heart of the town.

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