STALYBRIDGE was alive with the sound of music as the town hosted its third annual Bridge Fest.
The festival, organised by volunteers from its Town Team, drew in hundreds of visitors from near and far, eager to experience a day of live performances while exploring what the centre has on offer.
Kicking proceedings off in Armentieres Square, St John’s Band (Mossley) delivered a lively brass performance that set the tone for Saturday, September 7.
Spectators packed in, including the newly appointed Secretary of State for Business, Jonathan Reynolds MP, who was among those who had travelled to Stalybridge specifically for the event.
Eleven local venues transformed into stages for a showcase of talent.
From the bustling beer gardens to the packed bars, stores and church, Bridge Fest was a resounding success, with all participating locations reporting some of their busiest trade of the year.
Among the most popular spots was Bridge Beers, on Melbourne Street, where festival regular Colin once again drew a standing-room-only crowd.
The Rock Choir at Bohemian Lounge and Scapegrace at the Rifleman filled their venues to capacity with their energetic shows.
Bridge Fest debutants, ‘Caught in the North’ were the stars of the day, pulling an incredible three performances, (despite nerves).
Ray Harrison, Chair of the Stalybridge Town Team, expressed his delight over the festival’s growing success.
He said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from the community.
“The success of last year’s festival showed us just how much people love coming together to celebrate local talent and we were thrilled to bring it back even bigger this year.
“None of this would have been possible without the incredible support from our volunteers, sponsors, local businesses, and residents.
“It was truly a festival by the community, for the community.”
With the event continuing to grow in popularity, Bridge Fest is quickly cementing its place as a beloved tradition in Stalybridge.
For more information and updates, be sure to follow Stalybridge Town Team on Facebook: www.facebook.com/StalybridgeTownTeam