Curious things are happening in Eccles to celebrate 150 years since the publication of Alice in Wonderland.
On Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September, Eccles will come alive with street acts, live music, a teenage market, shopping, festival stalls, tea rituals and a Cheshire cat comedy grin.
It’s all part of the annual Love Eccles Festival which, this year, has taken on an Alice in Wonderland theme.
Councillor David Lancaster, The Deputy Mayor at Salford City Council, said: “This year’s festival promises to be lots of fun with plenty to do for all the family.
“Word is already spreading on the streets and the community has started to come together to design costumes for the wonderland parade, rehearse for a play in the Queen of Hearts garden and train their dog to take part in the Homeless Hounds Companion Dog Show.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in Eccles before and it is certainly not to be missed.”
Festival preparations kick off on Monday 24 August at Eccles Town Hall, between noon and 3.00pm, when families can come together to help make costumes for the festival. More sessions take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday of the same week.
On Saturday 5 September, the festival officially begins and Eccles Library is throwing open its doors for children under eight who want to have their faces painted like a Cheshire cat and make a mad hat.
The wonderland parade starts at Eccles Station at 2.00pm and will see people in Alice in Wonderland fancy dress march through the town centre.
Barton Theatre Company will put on a show at 2.00pm in the Narbonne Gardens and the Mad Hatters tea party will take place at Eccles Town Hall from 2.30pm to 4.00pm.
Festival stalls, music, dance and fairground rides will be open at various times throughout the weekend.
