The Barnaby Festival is set to return this summer promising a series of fun and colourful events.
The biennial arts festival, which dates back to the 13th century but was reinvented as an arts and culture festival in 2010, returns in June after a year off.
The theme of this year’s events will be ‘Roots/Routes’ - a word that sounds the same but has two different meanings - which will inspire the exhibitions and performances throughout the 10-day festival, which starts on June 15.
As always Barnaby will play host to the popular visual arts trail with local artists exhibiting their work.
Over the weekend of June 16 and 17 the town centre will become a hub for street performance, music, food and drink. The Big Weekend will also see the return of the hugely popular Barnaby Parade, with community groups from across Macclesfield already busying themselves with creating their costumes and floats for the event.
Mandy Martinez, who moved to Macclesfield in 2006 to work on the Manchester International Festival, has been enlisted as this year’s Festival Director.
Mum-of-one Mandy said: “I’m really excited to get involved in such a fantastic community event.
“People really miss it on it’s ‘off’ year so it’s great to be back. This year looks set to be a colourful and fun festival with lots of interpretations of our theme of Routes/Roots - so get ready to paint the town Barnaby!”
She says she is excited to celebrate some homegrown talent.
She added: “Macclesfield is such a fantastic place, concentrating on home grown talent is what we are all about and showing off how edgy, independent and creative we are.”
The full programme will be announced after Easter.
If you would like to join the festival as a volunteer, go to barnabyfestival.org.uk. To register for the Parade, which takes place on Saturday June 16 at midday, visit Macc Art Space at macclesfieldcommunityartspace.com.
