“2023’s Barnaby Festival on 17-18 June 2023 was joyous. The weekend’s events showcased Macclesfield’s creativity and community spirit as people lined the streets to see the Parade and take in the Community Art Trail. We were overwhelmed by contributions to both elements of the festival as we rebuild Barnaby’s connection with the people of Macclesfield: this being our first in person festival since 2018.”
The parade was led by the Macclesfield Community Artspace team, alongside the mayor of Cheshire East Cllr Rod Fletcher and Macclesfield Town Council Mayor Cllr Christopher Wilcock.
Handmade floats created with Macclesfield Artspace via creative outreach workshops responded to the theme of “In a New Light” flooded the festival route including a Blue Tit from Save Danes Moss, young people from Park Royal Primary School transformed into a walking rainbow, with Tytherington High school High School and the Pearls of Cheshire joining forces to bring audiences a taste of Africa.
The arts community in Macclesfield has shown its strength, with numerous independent and collaborative events taking place over the weekend. We are so proud to have worked with fantastic organisations such as Macc Art Space, Christ Church and the Silk Museum to make this year’s festival a success. The festival truly wouldn’t have been possible without the volunteers who have given their time creatively, logistically and in spreading the word for Barnaby – an organisation run entirely by a volunteer Board of Trustees together with support from Macclesfield Town Council
We are proud to have brought Barnaby back to the people of Macclesfield, and are so excited about the future of what is possible when people come together creatively in the town.”
Your Opinion
Cheshire East commissioned The Audience Agency to undertake market research on the day of the parade.
If you participated in the parade, were a spectator, enjoyed the Community Art Trail or any of the Barnaby Festival events your views are important to us.
Please click on this link for a short survey: https://research.audiencesurveys.org/s/xi9vcp?source=BarnabyFest
Thanks to all who came to the Listening Tent on 17 June 2023
Image Credits: Mick Steff and Flownamix
