Stalybridge Carnival celebrates its 50th Anniversary on Sunday 28 June when the annual carnival rolls into town.

To mark this milestone Stalybridge Festival Committee (in partnership with Dukinfield & Stalybridge Rotary Club) has been extremely busy behind the scenes planning a bumper Carnival befitting of this occasion. This year we are pleased to join forces with the global Carnival arts group – Global Grooves based in Mossley – to add some extra magic to the parade.

Event Organiser, Ian Cochrane, said: Stalybridge Carnival has very much become an integral part of our heritage and culture, and the Festival Committee appreciates the many thousands of people from Stalybridge and beyond who come along year after year to support the Carnival.

A big thank you to Dukinfield & Stalybridge Rotary Club and Jigsaw Housing for their financial donations towards the cost of this year’s Carnival. It is much appreciated.

This year’s parade will again start from the Assembly Point on Bayley Street at 1:00pm before making its way through the town centre. We already received many entries from local community groups, schools Dance Groups and local businesses who will be taking part in the Parade.

There will also be a float in the Carnival for our former Stalybridge Carnival Queens who can contact us via our email address stalybridgefestival@outlook.com if they would like to join us in the parade.

Once again, we are planning a fun packed family day of activities in Cheetham Park starting from 11:00am including a large family fun fair, many craft and community stalls, hot food and live entertainment in the Performance Arena.

The Festival Committee has also been working with Stalybridge Motor Bike Club who themselves are celebrating their 50 Anniversary in 2026 and will be hosting a Motor Bike Show in Cheetham Park on Carnival Day.

In addition, Tameside Voices are planning to entertain the crowds in Armentieres Square as they await the arrival of the razzamatazz of the parade. Whilst over in Stalybridge Civic Hall, So Retro will be hosting a Retro event which will include trade stalls, several classic vehicles and live entertainment.

It all adds up to being an unforgettable day. So come on down and join in the fun as Stalybridge celebrates 50 years of Stalybridge Carnival.

Ian Cochrane

On behalf of Stalybridge Festival Committee