The Rossendale Real Ale Festival, a two-day family event, is returning to Lancashire this summer to raise vital funds for Rossendale Hospice. Organised by local brewery owners Alejandro Romero and Michael Ormerod for the third time, the festival has already raised £2,500 for hospice care over the past two years.
Beers and Sponsors
Visitors can enjoy 20 different cask and keg beers from local independent breweries, alongside a selection of cocktails. Seventeen local sponsors have backed the festival to maximise returns for the charity.
Entertainment Lineup
Michael Ormerod said: “This year, on the Saturday, we have a professional stage truck for the local bands that are playing. We have the winner of the Battle of the Bands Silver St and then we will have Velvet Curtains – the band used to be known as Beaver - they do a lot of 80s and 90s covers from U2 to Gary Numan.” The weekend entertainment includes five bands, an Elvis tribute act, a ukulele group, and a traditional male choir. A popular hog roast stall returns with a larger offering after selling out quickly last year.
Family Activities
Alejandro Romero added: “This is a family friendly event and, on the Saturday, we will also be having the Griffin World Cup. We have a gigantic inflatable football which will be used for matches and people are already booking in teams. Louise Ashton, from Ink and Soul, will be bringing books and will be holding reading sessions with children, there will be a face painter and there is lots of space on the site for children to run around.”
Attendance and Tickets
Organisers hope to double attendance this year after welcoming more than 800 people previously. Tickets cost £5 and can be bought in person from Northern Whisper or The Griffin, or online. The festival takes place on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26, from noon to 8pm, at St Mary’s Community Sports Club field, South Shore Street, Haslingden.
