Fire festival and Christmas lights switch-on taking place in Greater Manchester this weekend

A Greater Manchester borough will be getting its festive celebrations underway this weekend with a fire festival and annual Christmas lights switch-on ceremony.

Running from Friday until Sunday (November 22 to 24), Rochdale town centre will be lit up with blazing sculptures, illuminated installations and live entertainment for a series of three night events under the Ignite Fire Festival.

Co-curated by award-winning arts specialists Walk The Plank, the free, family-friendly events will include a fire dancing and juggling show featuring performers, including Flame Oz, Bring the Fire Project, and Travelling Light Circus. There will also be the 20-piece drumming collective Drum Machine delivering techno infused beats.

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Proceedings will also include the Christmas lights switch-on ceremony, taking place from 5.30pm on Sunday night, which will feature appearances from the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Shakil Ahmed, and Middleton Arena pantomime stars Castle Clown and Princess Beauty, as well as Father Christmas himself.

The spectacular performances throughout the weekend will take place in the gardens and Esplanade opposite Rochdale Town Hall as part of a wider Ignite show and will include a fire and light trail for families to explore.

A special fire drawing, designed and made by local residents, will be ignited each night as performers entertain crowds. There will be entertainment from street theatre groups, a trio of ‘Astro Aliens’, acrobatics from Skylight Circus Arts, and the Fireflies fire spinning group alongside members of the Teen Youth Circus.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale