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Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre Host Imbolc Fire Festival

Imbolc is traditionally a time of weather prognostication, and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens is perhaps a precursor to the North American Groundhog Day!

James Dean, visitor services manager at Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre said: “Imbolc Festival is a great way for us to kick off our 2010 events calendar on the Saturday 6 February 2010.

Imbolc is the cross-quarter festival that heralds the start of the spring quarter of the year and the end of the winter quarter.

Imbolc is observed by Gaels, Irish people, Scottish people, Neopagans and Welsh people a Gaelic / Celtic / Pagan festival celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere on February 1.

Even though it occurs at probably the coldest time of the year, it marks the time at which days become noticeably longer.

Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of spring. Originally dedicated to the goddess Brighid, in the Christian period it was adopted as St Brigid's Day. Fire and purification is considered by many to be an important aspect of this festival.

It's time to put those winter blues to bed as Standedge sparks into life on Saturday 6 February as it gets ready to host the 18th annual Imbolc Fire Festival.

Following the recent spell of freezing temperatures and snow, Imbolc Fire Festival will be raising the temperature with some spectacular fire sculptures, a fire circus and a battle not to be missed between Jack Frost and the Green Man.

The renowned community festival is a spectacular Celtic celebration heralding the beginning of spring. The evening event is one of the biggest dates in Marsden’s calendar, attracting around 2,000 people each year, showcasing an amazing torch lit procession, theatrical performances and a dazzling pyrotechnic display.

Festival organiser Angie Boycott-Garnett said: “The turn out at last year’s event was tremendous and the feedback we got from visitors was really heartening. The battle we stage between Jack Frost and the Green Man is a real family favourite and over the years Imbolc has become a key date in the local event calendar with families attracted from all around the region. I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t been before to make a trip to Standedge themselves to see what a great event it is.”

James Dean, visitor services manager at Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre said: “Imbolc Festival is a great way for us to kick off our 2010 events calendar before we re-open at the end of March in time for Easter. We’ve got a whole range of exciting events planned for the season to compliment the ever popular tunnel trips, which over 10,000 people went on last year. As one of only ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’, Standedge is the perfect place for a family day out.”

‘Imbolc’ marks the time when the Earth begins to wake-up after its winter sleep. The 2000 year old Celtic festival heralds the first signs of spring, with fire and purification an essential aspect of this. The lighting of candles and fires represents the return of warmth and the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months.

Throughout January, Standedge Visitor Centre hosted workshops on juggling skills, fire circus skills and fire swinging as well as lantern making workshops, which will be used in the stunning procession along Reddisher Road on the night of the festival.

Members of the public should meet at Marsden Railway Station car park around 7pm on Saturday 6 February to join the torch lit procession to Standedge. It is strongly recommended that members of the public do not bring dogs as the fireworks may distress animals.

For more information on the festival please contact Marsden Information Point on 01484 845595.