A CRACKING centenary carnival will see procession entries recapture the spirit of the original 1919 Peace Parade.

Thanks to research by historian Wendy Watters, who is also secretary of Bacup Natural History Society, a number of the participants in Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival will reflect the procession of 100 years ago when many of the entries were on a nursery rhyme theme.

The parade will leave from Broadclough Mill at 11am on Sunday June 30 and make its way down Burnley Road, on to Market Street, Park Road then New Line before arriving at Moorlands Park, approximately 12 noon.

The first 300 children to call at the Bacup Nat stall will receive a replica medal, mimicking what happened 100 years ago.

Chairman of Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival Catherine Smyth said: “This year marks the tenth year since BASCO formed a committee to ‘bring back Bacup Carnival’.

“Throughout the year the small committee work tirelessly to make sure everything is in place for the big day - this year on Sunday June 30.

“This ranges from applying for grants, approaching businesses to sponsor aspects of the event, attracting parade, park and stage entries and raising money.

“On the day around 30 carnival makers volunteer the whole day to making sure the event runs smoothly and without their help it would not be possible to stage the carnival.

“However, more important are the people who line the streets to support the procession and everyone who takes part in the parade and in the park. This is a fun, family event and we look forward to welcoming a huge crowd into the park to join in the celebrations.”

Primary schools, youth groups, drummers, dancers and a band are just a few of the amazing groups in the procession.

In the park, the historical theme will continue with a traditional dialect welcome poem read by Sid Calderbank.

The park will be packed with stalls from local businesses, community groups and charities, the stage will be packed with dancers, cheerleaders, majorettes, a martial arts group and much more - including Gangnam Great Gran Dorothy Salt who will again be raising money for Cancer Research UK.

All around Bacup town centre shops have joined in the celebration offering space in their shop windows for installations created by youth groups and schools as part of a Heritage Lottery Project secured by Wendy.

Catherine added: “The carnival has something to offer everyone and we are looking forward to welcoming all ages into the park to join in the fun.

“Even though the Women’s World Cup is being contested at the moment, there are no matches on carnival day, so the park will be the place to be and we hope the sun will shine.”

This year the carnival is one of a number of events under the umbrella of Rossendale Heritage Festival - a nine-day celebration of Valley culture.