Fun of the festival in town centre

From the The Bolton News, first published Monday 27th Aug 2007.

Town centre entertainment continues today as the revamped Churchgate area is transformed into a fringe festival with live music, stilt walkers, mime artists and street entertainers for the outdoor Down Our Street event.

Motorists are being warned that some roads will be closed. Churchgate from Bradshawgate to Churchbank will be closed along with a number of roads near the Parish Church.

Earlier, street entertainers took over Victoria Square as festival fever arrived in Bolton.

A jazz band, stilt walkers and jugglers performed between screenings of a film shot in the town which starred a host of famous faces.

The events were part of the Bolton Festival, which runs throughout August and September.

The highlight of yesterday was the short film Made In Bolton, produced by a local filmmaker.

It followed Bolton-born actress Maxine Peake, of Dinnerladies and Shameless fame, as she spent a day touring the borough and talking to people.

The film gave viewers a rare chance to relive Bolton Wanderers' victory in the 1958 FA Cup final and the Queen's visit to Bolton in 1954.

It also featured comedians Dave Spikey, Stu Francis and Bernard Wrigley.

Edna Crook, aged 80, from Harwood, said: "I thought it was very good. I'm interested in history and as I was born in Bolton, so it was like reliving my childhood."

Cllr Ebrahim Adia, Bolton Council's executive member for development, said: "The big-screen event was about trying new ways to boost what is already going on in the town centre on Sundays. It celebrates Bolton's heritage, successes and our future aspirations."

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